Saudi Arabia’s aviation authorities have issued an important alert for air travelers on Saturday. Due to the ongoing tension in the region and closure of airspace, many flights have been canceled or suspended. King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh), Jeddah and Dammam airports have clearly stated that passengers should check the status of their flights before leaving home. This advice is especially for those passengers who were going to travel amid the ongoing developments.
Status of flights between India and Gulf countries
Passengers traveling between Saudi Arabia and India may face major problems. Many big airlines have stopped their services or changed their routes. Read the information given below carefully:
Air India: All flights to the Middle East have been suspended. The flight going from Delhi to Tel Aviv was diverted to Mumbai.
IndiGo, flydubai and Akasa Air: These companies have stopped their services to major cities like Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam.
Saudi: Saudi Arabia’s national airline has canceled many regional and international flights.
Qatar Airways: All flights to and from Doha have been temporarily stopped.
What should passengers do?
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and airport operators have appealed to passengers not to trust any third-party tracking apps. For correct information, use only the official website or app of the airline. Airlines like Emirates and IndiGo have said that they are providing rebooking or full refund facility to the affected passengers. Since it is the month of Ramadan, the number of Umrah pilgrims is high, hence it is very important to take confirmation before going to the airport.
Why was the airspace closed?
This step has been taken due to security reasons after the attacks on Iran by America and Israel in the early hours of Saturday. Due to this, countries like Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar have closed their airspace for civil aircraft. Although Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam airports are open, emergency protocols are in place and security has been increased.