IndiGo prolongs Saudi flight cancellations amid rising drone and missile threats
IndiGo announced that flights to Riyadh will stay cancelled until 31 October 2026, and to Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until 27 October 2026 because of ongoing security risks.
IndiGo confirmed that its Riyadh flights will remain grounded through 31 October 2026, while services to Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah are suspended until 27 October 2026, citing heightened security concerns. The cancellations come amid an intensified campaign of drone and missile strikes by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis targeting Saudi airports, oil facilities and other critical infrastructure. A recent attack on King Fahd International Airport resulted in the death of an Indian national and injuries to two others, and a separate strike at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield wounded another Indian citizen.
In response, Air India, Air India Express and Akasa Air have also suspended flights to the kingdom. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs is working with airlines and tour operators to repatriate affected Umrah pilgrims, while the embassy advises Indian residents to stay alert, follow Saudi authorities’ instructions, and avoid sharing images of attacks. Volunteer groups and 24-hour control rooms have been set up to assist Indian nationals in the region.
Why it matters
The extended flight bans affect thousands of Indian travelers and highlight the broader security fallout from the Houthi campaign in Saudi Arabia.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTBoth camps report IndiGo's flight cancellations due to security concerns, but right-leaning coverage adds extensive context about Houthi drone and missile attacks and the broader airline response.
CENTER
Centrist coverage presents the cancellations as a precautionary response to heightened security concerns following a specific airport attack.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage frames the cancellations within an escalating campaign of drone and missile threats by Iran-backed Houthis, highlighting Indian casualties and coordinated airline suspensions.
The right emphasises
- rising drone and missile threats from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis
- death of an Indian national and injuries to others in the King Fahd attack
- other Indian carriers (Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air) also suspending flights
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