{
  "id": 14888932,
  "title": "Air India cancels all flights to and from three Saudi cities till October 20",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/air-india-cancels-all-flights-to-and-from-three-saudi-cities-till",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-16T06:24:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/air-india-cancels-riyadh-dammam-and-jeddah-flights-till-october-20-heres-how-passengers-can-apply-for-refunds-for-saudi-flights-cancelled/articleshow/134984412.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NEW DELHI: Air India has suspended all flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia until October 20, 2026, as the country's situation remains fluid. The airline is keeping a close watch on developments and evaluating the safety of resuming operations.\n\nAir India passengers who have been affected will receive a full refund for their canceled flights. The airline prioritizes passenger and crew safety above all else.\n\nThis cancellation comes after Air India, along with other carriers Akasa Air and IndiGo, halted or reduced flights to and from Riyadh following reports of explosions, including a loud blast at the city’s international airport.\n\nTo obtain a refund, passengers can request it through Air India’s Manage Booking section if they booked online, or by contacting the agent or website where they made their reservation. Those who purchased tickets through a ticketing office should visit the same office to request a refund. The refunded amount will be credited to the original payment method, provided it is active.\n\nSeveral other international airlines, such as Air France-KLM, Akasa Air, IndiGo, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Lufthansa Group airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Qatar Airways, have also altered their schedules due to the ongoing conflict. Additionally, Cathay Pacific has postponed the resumption of its Hong Kong-Dubai and Hong Kong-Riyadh routes until January 31, 2027, while Delta Air Lines has delayed its planned flights from Atlanta to Riyadh until March 2027.\n\nAir India is also taking steps to cut costs as the airline faces increasing operational pressures. The carrier recently established a Cost Savings Team to identify areas where spending can be reduced across all departments. CEO Tewolde Gebremariam emphasized the importance of employees taking responsibility for their work and making careful spending decisions to help the airline weather the challenging economic environment.",
  "summary": "In response to the escalating conflict, Air India has halted all flights to and from Saudi Arabia until October 20. This decision aligns with similar suspensions by other carriers such as Air France-KLM and Gulf Air. Affected passengers will receive refunds, as the airline prioritizes safety amidst growing operational costs, further amplified by the ongoing turbulence in the Middle East that…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}