Airline route suspensions and airport cancellations in Kerala have unsettled travel to Saudi Arabia, leaving expatriates and other passengers to rework journeys as several services remain unavailable into late October.
Manorama Online reported Oct. 17 that Air India and Air India Express had paused flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam through Oct. 24. The outlet also listed IndiGo suspensions for Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Medina through that date, while a separate report put the end of the airline’s Jeddah suspension at Oct. 21.
Cancellations affected two Kerala airports across several days. Manorama Online, citing airport authorities, reported that 10 Gulf services from Cochin International Airport were canceled from Oct. 11 to 13, including flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Doha. At Kozhikode International Airport, 22 Gulf flights were canceled on Oct. 16: 12 arrivals and 10 departures. Manorama Online named Akasa Air, Flynas, Saudia, IndiGo and Air India Express as operators of canceled flights.
Airports and airlines urged travelers to verify departures through updates before setting out and then contact carriers about ticket changes or refunds. Air India and Air India Express made rescheduling available for eligible bookings and offered refunds to affected passengers.
Gulf News said the disruptions followed security concerns tied to Houthi attacks and the wider regional conflict, citing Manorama Online reports. It also said alternative-route fares were a concern for passengers but did not identify a confirmed fare increase. Some travelers may use other Gulf airports, subject to available seats, visa requirements and airline conditions; they may need to arrange their own onward transport, Gulf News reported.
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said an attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Oct. 21 killed one person and injured eight. Manorama Online’s reported suspension dates for several Saudi routes extend through Oct. 24.
