Mangaluru flyers stranded as Saudi suspensions stretch to Oct 24

Hundreds of passengers from coastal Karnataka relying on Mangaluru International Airport for links to Saudi Arabia remain stranded or forced to reroute as multiple airlines extend flight suspensions to the kingdom until October 24, following recent attacks on Saudi airports and heightened regional security concerns.

Regional security crisis ripples into coastal Karnataka

Published coverage indicates that the latest wave of flight disruptions is tied to attacks on Saudi airports in October 2026, which have prompted widespread cancellations and route changes across international carriers operating to Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and other cities. Aviation reports describe damage and safety concerns at key facilities, leading airlines and regulators to scale back or halt services while risk assessments continue.

News reports on the situation in Saudi Arabia show that hundreds of flights have been cancelled or diverted in recent days, affecting not only long haul routes but also short haul connections from India and other nearby countries. With many carriers operating point to point schedules from secondary Indian cities, the impact has quickly spread beyond the country’s largest gateways.

For southern Karnataka, Mangaluru International Airport serves as a vital link to the Gulf for workers, Umrah pilgrims and families with long established ties to Saudi Arabia. As suspensions harden into a prolonged disruption lasting at least until October 24, passengers who had chosen Mangaluru for its convenience are now facing complex journeys, extra costs and prolonged uncertainty.

Local and regional media coverage from Mangaluru describes growing anxiety among those with time sensitive travel needs, including elderly passengers, people with medical conditions and travelers holding visas or return deadlines that are now at risk because of the extended suspensions.

Indian carriers extend Saudi cancellations to October 24

According to publicly available airline advisories and Indian media reports, Air India and Air India Express have extended the suspension of all flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam until October 24, 2026. The two carriers, which share a network strategy under a common ownership structure, operate key Saudi routes from several Indian cities and are regarded as important options for travelers from coastal Karnataka.

Travel industry bulletins that track Air India Express schedules list its Saudi operations, including services from secondary South Indian airports, as cancelled through October 24. These advisories note that the suspension window was lengthened after an internal safety review, and that affected passengers are being offered rebooking or refunds in line with each carrier’s policy.

Low cost carrier IndiGo has similarly cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah up to and including October 24, according to its mid October travel advisory cited in Indian business media. The airline’s network includes several Gulf routes from South India, and its Saudi cancellations have therefore widened the pool of affected passengers across the region.

Budget airline Akasa Air has also extended suspensions on its Saudi routes, with reports indicating that flights to and from Riyadh remain cancelled until October 24, while some Jeddah services are paused until October 21. Although Akasa does not serve Mangaluru directly, its Saudi cancellations contribute to fewer alternative options for travelers trying to rebook from nearby Indian airports.

Qatar and Gulf connections offer limited alternatives

With direct Saudi services halted, some Mangaluru area travelers have turned to Gulf transit hubs to find a way home. Regional outlets focusing on Qatar report that Qatar Airways has extended the suspension of flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam through October 24 and reduced its Jeddah service from seven daily flights to four. The carrier has advised passengers with existing bookings to check their schedules within 48 hours of departure because timings remain subject to change.

Despite the reduced capacity, Jeddah and Doha have emerged as key transit points for stranded Umrah pilgrims and workers seeking to leave Saudi Arabia or return from the kingdom to India. Coverage from coastal Karnataka describes pilgrims choosing to travel by road from Saudi cities into Qatar, then flying onward to Indian airports where seats remain available.

For passengers whose original itineraries involved Mangaluru, this often means accepting a longer and more complex route, such as travelling overland within Saudi Arabia, then flying from Doha to a major Indian hub like Bengaluru or Kochi, and finally connecting by domestic flight or surface transport back to the coastal districts.

Travel advisories and airline statements consistently urge customers to monitor official airline channels, noting that schedules across the region are subject to rapid change as security assessments evolve and as Saudi aviation authorities adjust restrictions at major airports.

Stranded flyers from Mangaluru face mounting disruption

Local media coverage from Mangaluru highlights how the Saudi suspensions have hit passengers from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and neighbouring areas who depend on the city’s international airport for affordable links to the Gulf. Reports describe hundreds of travelers whose journeys have been delayed, rerouted or left in limbo after airlines extended cancellations to October 24.

Among those affected are Umrah pilgrims who had planned to return to Mangaluru on direct or one stop itineraries via Saudi gateways. With their flights cancelled and limited clarity on when full services will resume, some pilgrims have reportedly opted to travel long hours by road within Saudi Arabia and into Qatar to secure flights back to India.

Coverage notes that the disruption is especially challenging for elderly pilgrims and people travelling with health issues, who had chosen relatively short, direct routes via Mangaluru to reduce strain. Instead, they are now navigating unfamiliar road journeys, multiple airport transfers and the possibility of last minute schedule changes as airlines adjust operations day by day.

Travel agents in coastal Karnataka, as described in regional reports, are fielding a surge of calls from worried customers seeking clarity on refunds, future travel dates and alternative routing options. Many agencies are advising clients to prioritise flexibility, including accepting rebookings to other Indian airports or later dates, given the continuing uncertainty around Saudi airport operations.

What affected passengers can do now

Publicly available airline updates indicate that most carriers serving Saudi Arabia are allowing affected customers to rebook without fare change penalties within a defined travel window, obtain vouchers, or request refunds depending on fare rules. However, implementation varies by airline, and some passengers are encountering long call centre wait times and delays in processing changes because of the surge in demand.

Travel advisories recommend that passengers holding tickets between India and Saudi Arabia through at least October 24 review their booking status directly on airline websites or mobile apps rather than relying on third party summaries. Where possible, travelers are encouraged to use online self service tools to request changes or refunds, as phone and in person assistance may be constrained.

For flyers based in Mangaluru and the wider coastal belt, one practical strategy described in regional coverage is to consider rebooking to Indian airports that still have relatively stable connections to Gulf hubs not directly affected by the Saudi suspensions. This may involve additional surface travel within India but can provide a clearer path home for those facing approaching visa expiries, employment reporting dates or urgent family commitments.

At present, there is no publicly available indication that normal Saudi schedules from Indian cities, including Mangaluru linked routes, will resume before October 25. Industry observers caution that any further security incidents or operational challenges at Saudi airports could prompt additional extensions, and advise passengers to plan with contingency time built into their itineraries until the situation stabilises.