Indian airlines extend Saudi suspensions: Riyadh and Dammam to 30 Nov, Jeddah to 21 Nov

Jeddah and Madinah are the main gateways for pilgrims travelling for Umrah and the visit to the Prophet's mosque, and Riyadh and Dammam are the main destinations for the large number of Indian workers in the kingdom. The accounts available do not give passenger numbers, so the scale of the disruption cannot be put in figures here.

Air India's statement referred to the prevailing situation in the region and gave no further detail. IndiGo said it had made a careful assessment of the safety and security considerations. A report on the IndiGo notice linked the extension to attacks in Saudi Arabia: on 8 November, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy said an attempted attack had targeted an administrative building of the oil company Aramco in Riyadh, that falling shrapnel caused limited damage and that nobody was injured. A spokesperson for Yemen's Houthi movement claimed six operations against Saudi facilities, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Those claims have not been independently verified, and the airlines did not mention them in their notices.

The suspensions come in a week when the Houthis also claimed attacks on a Saudi oil pipeline pumping station and on Yanbu, which pushed oil prices up. The airlines have not said that any specific threat to an aircraft or an airport has been identified, and the decision is a precaution.

Refunds and rebooking

Air India's policy applies to confirmed bookings issued on or before 10 November. For Riyadh and Dammam, it covers travel dates through November, and for Jeddah it covers travel dates through 21 November. Eligible passengers can reschedule free of charge, subject to availability, or take a full refund if they cancel. IndiGo said it is contacting affected passengers using the phone number and email given at booking and that they can choose re-accommodation, a refund or alternative arrangements.

The practical points for travellers are simple. A booking should be checked against the airline's own notice, because the cities and the end dates differ between carriers. Passengers who bought tickets through a travel agent or a portal should ask that seller as well as the airline. Those with onward connections, such as a pilgrimage package or a work contract that starts on a fixed date, should tell the employer or the tour operator about the cancellation in writing.

What could change

The dates have been extended more than once, and another extension is possible if the security position does not improve. The airlines have said they will review the situation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Civil Aviation publish advisories on passengers' rights in a cancellation, and the airlines' websites carry the latest status for each route. Travellers should check them again before going to the airport, and especially in the last week before a suspension is due to end.

The suspensions have been extended a number of times since mid-October. Indian airlines first cancelled Saudi flights on 13 October amid security concerns, IndiGo and Akasa extended their cancellations on 15 October, and the end dates have moved since. IndiGo's latest notice is dated 10 November, Akasa's extension was announced on 12 November and Air India's on 13 November.

Saudi Arabia is home to a large Indian community, mostly workers in construction, health care, retail and services, and it is a major destination for pilgrims who go for Umrah through the year. A suspension of flights to Jeddah and Madinah in particular affects pilgrim groups, and a suspension to Riyadh and Dammam affects workers returning from leave or travelling to new jobs. The accounts available do not say how many passengers hold tickets on the cancelled flights, and do not say whether foreign carriers are still flying the routes. Travellers booked on a carrier that is not Indian should check that airline's own notice, since each carrier decides separately.