Indian carriers suspend Saudi Arabia flights after Houthi missile strike

Air India and its budget subsidiary Air India Express have suspended all flights to Riyadh until October 10, citing the security situation in the Saudi Arabian capital. The move affects multiple daily services on one of the busiest routes for Indian carriers, which transport tens of thousands of passengers monthly between India and the Kingdom.

IndiGo, India's largest airline by market share, has cancelled several Riyadh-bound flights and diverted a service originating from Hyderabad to Dammam instead. The carrier's decision reflects growing caution among operators responding to the security threat in the region.

The suspensions and diversions come after a missile attack attributed to Houthi forces targeting the Saudi capital. The Yemen-based militant group has conducted periodic strikes on Saudi Arabian cities and infrastructure in recent years, prompting periodic aviation security reviews across the region.

Indian carriers maintain significant operations in Saudi Arabia, serving millions of Indian expatriates and workers employed across the Kingdom's oil and service sectors. The temporary suspensions are expected to cause disruptions for passengers with bookings during the affected period, though airlines have typically offered rebooking options on alternative services or dates.