NEW DELHI (The Thursday Times) — Air India and its budget arm, Air India Express, have extended the suspension of their flights to Riyadh and Dammam until November 30, and to Jeddah until November 21, as Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia keep airlines away from the kingdom.
“Due to the prevailing situation in the region, Air India and Air India Express flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam will remain suspended until November 30,” the airline said in a travel advisory on Friday. Flights to and from Jeddah will stay suspended until November 21, it added.
Passengers with confirmed bookings issued on or before November 10 can rebook once free of charge, subject to availability, or cancel for a full refund. Rebooked travel must be completed by December 14 for Riyadh and Dammam, and by December 5 for Jeddah. Air India Express passengers can also move their journeys to any of the airline’s operating stations in Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.
Other Indian carriers have taken the same line. IndiGo has extended its suspension of flights to and from Jeddah and Madinah until November 21, while Akasa Air has suspended all flights to and from Riyadh and Jeddah until November 30.
Gulf carriers split
Airlines in the Gulf have taken different paths. Etihad Airways has cancelled all passenger and cargo flights between Abu Dhabi and both Riyadh and Dammam until November 19, though it has resumed up to four flights a day to Jeddah. “The situation remains dynamic and further changes are possible,” the airline said.
Emirates, flydubai, and Air Arabia have also cancelled selected services to the kingdom, though Emirates has resumed flights to Jeddah.
Qatar Airways has gone the other way, resuming daily flights to Riyadh on Friday and to Dammam on Saturday. Farther afield, KLM has extended its suspension of Riyadh and Dammam flights until December 27.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which suspended operations in October after it was attacked, is again handling some domestic and international flights, but several airlines have yet to restore their full schedules.
The Houthis said this week that they had launched drones at the airport and fired missiles at targets in southern Saudi Arabia, claims that have not been independently confirmed. Saudi air defences have intercepted a string of Houthi missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh and other cities in recent weeks.
