Akasa Air extends Saudi flight ban to October 27 as Indian embassy warns nationals to shelter

Akasa Air on Sunday extended the suspension of all flights to and from Riyadh and Jeddah until October 27, citing escalating security concerns in the Middle East and putting passenger and crew safety first.

In a post on X, the airline said the decision followed a careful assessment of the security situation. “[TravelUpdate]: October 18, 2026 | 16:00 IST — In view of the prevailing security situation in the Middle East, Akasa Air has extended the suspension of all flights to and from Riyadh and Jeddah upto and including October 27, 2026,” the carrier said, adding it was monitoring developments in real time.

Affected passengers can opt for a full refund, credited within seven days, or reschedule at no additional cost, with travel-partner bookings handled through the original agents. The move follows reported drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi targets, including Riyadh’s international airport and Saudi Aramco facilities, which have pushed airlines to reassess operations.

Separately, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh on Sunday urged Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to follow revised emergency safety guidelines: remain indoors until the danger passes, keep a safe distance from windows and glass structures, and avoid balconies, rooftops, large gatherings and hazardous areas. The embassy confirmed Indian nationals injured in the prevailing situation were receiving treatment in Saudi hospitals, without giving numbers.

The advisory said Riyadh’s airport remains closed to flight operations while Dammam, Jeddah and Medina are operational with disruptions. It listed current suspensions: Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo on all Saudi routes until October 24; Akasa until October 27. Saudia, Flynas and Flyadeal are running limited services from Dammam, Jeddah and Medina, and travellers needing urgent departure could consider transit through Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar. Indians planning Umrah were warned of possible cancellations that could leave them stranded.