Indian Airlines Extend Saudi Cancellations as New Makkah Control Room Opens for Pilgrims

A flurry of airline announcements and consular actions this week placed Jeddah's large Indian expatriate and pilgrim community at the centre of a rapidly evolving travel crisis. As regional security tensions in the Gulf continued to disrupt air links between India and Saudi Arabia, four Indian carriers extended their suspension deadlines and India opened a dedicated control room in the holy city of Makkah to support stranded Umrah pilgrims.

🤝 India Opens Emergency Control Room in Makkah for Stranded Umrah Pilgrims

India has established a dedicated control room inside the Indian Haj Pilgrims Office (IHPO) in Makkah to assist Indian nationals — particularly Umrah pilgrims — caught up in the ongoing flight disruptions between the two countries. The new facility operates alongside the Indian Consulate's existing 24-hour helpdesk in Jeddah, giving pilgrims two official points of contact regardless of whether they are stranded at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport or already in the holy cities awaiting their return flights. The dual-centre arrangement reflects the scale of the disruption: with four Indian carriers having suspended Saudi operations simultaneously, tens of thousands of Indians in the Kingdom face uncertain itineraries and urgent questions about refunds, emergency documentation, and alternate routing. For Jeddah's established Indian expat community — engineers, medical professionals, and traders who form the city's largest South Asian diaspora group — the control room provides a first port of call for navigating official channels. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah confirmed the IHPO facility is now operational and urged pilgrims and passengers to save both contact numbers as the situation continues to evolve across the Kingdom. [4]

Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa Extend Saudi Cancellations Through Late October

All four of India's major Saudi-route operators have extended their flight suspensions as disruptions at Riyadh, Jeddah and other Saudi airports persist. Air India has cancelled all services to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah through October 20, citing the evolving situation in Saudi Arabia, and is offering full refunds to affected passengers. IndiGo has taken the widest stance, extending cancellations covering Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah through October 24. Air India Express has aligned its Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam suspension with October 20, while Akasa Air — the newest entrant on Saudi routes — has suspended Riyadh services through October 24 and Jeddah flights through October 21. All carriers say they are monitoring the security situation continuously before deciding when to resume. Passengers holding tickets on any of the affected routes are advised to check directly with their airline or travel agent, as suspension end-dates differ by carrier and destination. The cascading cancellations are affecting not only Saudi-based Indian workers and their families visiting from India but also third-country transit passengers who route through Jeddah and Riyadh. Full refunds are being offered across the board, though passengers should check with their specific carrier for rebooking options. [5]

Six Indians Remain Hospitalised as Embassy Issues Saudi Airport Advisory

Six Indian nationals remained hospitalised in Saudi Arabia as the Indian Embassy issued a formal advisory covering disruptions at Saudi airports, according to The Statesman. The advisory, coordinated with the Indian Consulate in Jeddah, came as the security situation across Saudi airports continued to generate casualties alongside the well-publicised flight cancellations. Officials urged all Indian nationals in the Kingdom — whether in transit, on pilgrimage, or residing on work visas — to stay in contact with the nearest consular post and follow official guidance closely. The Indian community in Jeddah, which spans healthcare workers, construction professionals, and business owners numbering in the hundreds of thousands, is acutely aware that the disruptions carry risks beyond mere travel inconvenience. Consul officials have emphasised that the helpdesks in both Jeddah and Makkah are equipped to assist with welfare cases as well as pure travel logistics, and Indian nationals in distress are encouraged to reach out regardless of their visa status or travel circumstances. Community associations in Jeddah have been circulating the consulate contact numbers widely on WhatsApp networks serving the Indian expat community. [3]

Sources: [4] inkl · [5] Gulf News · [3] The Statesman