Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport is at the centre of a fast-moving security crisis. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have claimed a ballistic missile strike on the Saudi capital’s airport, and Saudi authorities say three people have been killed this week in strikes targeting Riyadh airport and Abha airport in the southwest. On Thursday, smoke was seen rising from a stationary aircraft at Riyadh airport, and global flight trackers showed dozens of cancelled departures within hours.
For Indian travellers, the impact is immediate and severe: every major Indian airline has now suspended its Riyadh services, and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued an urgent advisory for nationals in the Kingdom.
What Happened at Riyadh Airport
Early on Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Houthis claimed they had struck King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile. There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities about that specific claim, but Riyadh confirmed that strikes on the airport and on Abha airport this week killed three people. Witnesses reported smoke rising from a parked aircraft at the Riyadh airport on Thursday.
The rebels then issued what they called a “last” warning to global airlines about the consequences of operating in Saudi airspace, which they described as a theatre of their military operations. Within hours, airlines across Asia and Europe began pulling their Riyadh schedules. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that nearly half of all departures from Riyadh airport were cancelled by Thursday afternoon, with more than 150 flights scrapped and further cancellations expected on Friday.
Indian Airlines: Which Riyadh Flights Are Cancelled
Here is exactly what each Indian carrier has announced:
| Airline | Cancellation | Routes hit |
|---|---|---|
| IndiGo | All flights to/from Riyadh until Oct 9 | Delhi–Riyadh (Thu/Fri), Mumbai–Riyadh & Hyderabad–Riyadh (Fri) |
| Air India | All flights to/from Riyadh until Oct 10 | 7 weekly flights from Delhi & Mumbai; one Delhi–Riyadh flight turned back mid-air on Thursday |
| Air India Express | All flights to/from Riyadh until Oct 10 | 16 weekly flights from Bengaluru, Kochi, Kannur & Kozhikode |
| Akasa Air | Kochi–Riyadh & Riyadh–Kochi on Thursday; all Riyadh services until Oct 10 | 2 scheduled services cancelled immediately |
International carriers are following the same path. Lufthansa Group has suspended all Riyadh flights through October 16. KLM, Air France, Cathay Pacific and Philippine Airlines (Manila–Riyadh, Oct 8; return, Oct 10) have also cancelled or extended suspensions.
What Passengers Should Do Right Now
If you hold a ticket to or from Riyadh on any affected date:
- Do not go to the airport blindly. Check your flight status on the airline’s website or app first — schedules are changing by the hour.
- Refunds and rebooking are free. Air India Express and Akasa Air have both confirmed complimentary rescheduling or a full refund on cancellation. IndiGo and Air India are offering the same flexibility.
- Keep your PNR and booking email handy — rebooking queues are long, and having details ready speeds things up.
- Umrah and worker travel: if your travel is not urgent, consider postponing by a week. Riyadh is a major hub for Indian expatriate, business and religious traffic, and the situation is still evolving.
Indian Embassy Advisory for Nationals in Saudi Arabia
The Embassy of India in Riyadh has advised all Indian nationals in the Kingdom to remain alert and vigilant, stay indoors when necessary, and follow instructions issued by Saudi authorities through official channels. The advisory also strongly urges Indians not to record, circulate or repost any videos or news related to the ongoing events.
The embassy, the Consulate in Jeddah and VFS service centres will continue functioning normally, and further updates will follow as needed. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure as “completely unacceptable” and conveyed condolences to the families of those killed.
What Happens Next
Airlines say they are monitoring the situation “on a real-time basis” and will resume services only when safety is assured. With the Houthis threatening further action and nearly half of Riyadh’s departures already grounded, travellers should expect disruptions to continue through at least the weekend — and possibly longer if the security situation escalates.
For Indian workers, families and Umrah pilgrims with Saudi travel plans, the message is simple: stay updated through official airline and embassy channels, keep your bookings flexible, and do not panic — refund and rebooking protections are in place.