Akasa Air has extended suspensions on Jeddah and Riyadh services amid Saudi security concerns. The move follows deadly attacks affecting Indian nationals and continued strikes on critical infrastructure.
Akasa Air extends Saudi flight cancellations to Riyadh till Nov 30 and Jeddah till Nov 10. (File image)
Akasa Air has extended the suspension of flights to and from Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia amid the prevailing security situation in the country, with services to Jeddah suspended until November 10 and those to Riyadh until November 30, 2026.
In a travel update issued on October 23 at 9 pm IST, the airline said the decision followed a careful assessment of the security environment. It added that it was closely monitoring developments and assessing the situation in real time.
Passengers affected by the cancellations can opt for a full refund, which will be credited to the original source of payment within seven days, or reschedule their travel at no additional cost. Those who booked their tickets through travel partners have been asked to contact them directly for assistance.
INDIAN NATIONALS URGED TO CONSIDER ALTERNATE ROUTES
Amid the continuing flight disruptions and security concerns, the Indian mission in Saudi Arabia had earlier advised Indian nationals requiring urgent departure to consider travelling through Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar, subject to obtaining the necessary visas.
The advisory comes as Indian nationals have been affected by recent attacks on Saudi Arabia's critical infrastructure. The Indian embassy has urged the community to remain alert, follow instructions issued by Saudi authorities and move to a safe place inside a building during an aerial attack.
It has also warned Indian nationals against filming or sharing images and videos of interceptions or impact sites, citing possible legal consequences under Saudi law.
INDIAN NATIONAL KILLED IN DAMMAM AIRPORT ATTACK
The latest extension of flight suspensions follows an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Wednesday that killed an Indian national and injured two others, PTI reported.
On the same day, another Indian national was injured in a separate attack at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield.
Earlier, an attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 10 killed an Indian national and injured several others. The incident prompted the Indian embassy to issue safety advisories for the Indian community.
The developments come amid escalating drone and missile strikes targeting Saudi airports, energy installations and other critical infrastructure. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have been involved in a prolonged campaign against the country.
SAUDI ARABIA HOME TO 2.74 MILLION INDIANS
Saudi Arabia is home to around 2.74 million Indian nationals working across various sectors. With flight cancellations continuing and Indian nationals affected by recent attacks, the embassy and consulate are assisting travellers and pilgrims while urging the community to follow local safety instructions.
Akasa Air has said the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew remain its highest priority as it continues to monitor the security situation.
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