Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian SUSPEND All Riyadh Flights to October 16 — Air India and Air India Express to October 10 — IndiGo Suspended TODAY — Akasa Air and Philippine Airlines Also Out — Who Is Still Flying to Riyadh and Who Is Not — Complete EU261, UK261 and DOT Passenger Compensation Guide

Following the Houthi missile destruction of a Saudia Airbus A320 at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 8, 2026, a wave of European and Asian carriers have suspended or are suspending their Riyadh services. Lufthansa Group — covering Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines — has suspended all Riyadh services through October 16. Air India and Air India Express are suspended through October 10. IndiGo’s suspension covers today, October 9, and has not yet been extended beyond this date. Akasa Air and Philippine Airlines have also cancelled their Riyadh services. This companion article to TravelTourister’s main Saudia A320 story covers what European and Asian carrier passengers are specifically entitled to — under EU261, UK261, US DOT and Canadian APPR rules — and gives you the exact steps to claim your refund or rebooking right now.

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📊 PART 1: Complete Carrier Status Board — Who Is Suspended, Who Is Flying

This is the definitive status board for every carrier whose Riyadh suspension has been confirmed as of October 9, 2026. Use this before making any travel decision.

European Carriers — SUSPENDED

Asian Carriers — SUSPENDED

Long-Haul Carriers — ALREADY SUSPENDED (Pre-existing)

Carriers Still Flying to Riyadh (With Caution)

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✈️ PART 2: Lufthansa Group — The Biggest European Suspension

Lufthansa Group airlines will suspend flights to Riyadh up to and including October 16, a spokesperson confirmed on Thursday, as missile attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement disrupted operations at King Khalid International Airport and triggered a wave of cancellations and diversions.

The Lufthansa Group suspension is the most significant European aviation withdrawal from Riyadh since the 2026 conflict began. Lufthansa Group is one of the world’s most safety-focused airline groups — its decision to suspend through October 16 following the destruction of a parked commercial aircraft at the airport gate reflects a formal safety assessment, not merely a precautionary measure.

The three carriers covered:

Lufthansa (LH) — Frankfurt and Munich to Riyadh

Lufthansa operates daily services from Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) to Riyadh (RUH). These are popular routes for German, Austrian and Swiss business travellers, and for UK and Australian passengers connecting through Frankfurt or Munich to Riyadh on Lufthansa-operated sectors.

Suspension: All LH Riyadh services through October 16, 2026.

Affected passengers: Anyone holding an LH-coded or Lufthansa-operated ticket to or from RUH on any date through October 16 is affected. This includes passengers on Lufthansa metal with Star Alliance connections through Frankfurt or Munich.

Swiss International Air Lines (LX) — Zurich to Riyadh

Swiss operates Zurich (ZRH) to Riyadh (RUH) services. Swiss is a popular choice for European and UK passengers routing through Zurich for Gulf business travel.

Suspension: All LX Riyadh services through October 16, 2026.

Austrian Airlines (OS) — Vienna to Riyadh

Austrian Airlines operates Vienna (VIE) to Riyadh (RUH). Austrian is a key carrier for Central and Eastern European passengers connecting to Saudi Arabia.

Suspension: All OS Riyadh services through October 16, 2026.

What happens after October 16: The Lufthansa Group suspension is stated as “through October 16” — not “until further notice.” This means the group has set October 16 as its current review date. Given that October 16 is also Italy’s aviation strike day and France’s aviation strike begins October 17, Lufthansa Group will need to make a specific operational decision on or before that date. A further extension is possible. Do not book Riyadh on Lufthansa Group for dates after October 16 until a formal resumption is confirmed.

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✈️ PART 3: Indian Carriers — A Wave of Suspensions

India has the largest expatriate workforce in Saudi Arabia — approximately 2.4 million Indian nationals work in the Kingdom, making India–Saudi Arabia one of the world’s highest-frequency air corridors. The simultaneous suspension of four Indian carriers represents the most significant disruption to this corridor since the February 2026 conflict began.

Air India and Air India Express — Through October 10

Air India suspended Riyadh flights through October 10, with its Delhi–Riyadh service returning to Delhi mid-route. Air India Express — the low-cost subsidiary operating high-frequency services to Gulf states from smaller Indian cities — is also suspended through October 10.

Affected routes: Delhi–Riyadh, Mumbai–Riyadh, Bengaluru–Riyadh, Hyderabad–Riyadh and all Air India Express services from Indian Tier-2 cities to Riyadh.

Action: Go to airindia.com → Manage Booking or airindiaexpress.com → Manage Booking. Air India’s policy for security-related suspensions is a full refund or free rebooking to an alternative date.

IndiGo — Suspended TODAY, October 9

IndiGo cancelled Riyadh services through today, October 9. This is the most urgent action item in this section — if you are booked on IndiGo to Riyadh today, your flight is cancelled. Contact IndiGo immediately at 6e.com or on the IndiGo app.

The IndiGo suspension covering October 9 only (as currently stated) means the airline will make a fresh operational decision tomorrow, October 10. Given the security situation has not materially improved since the October 8 aircraft destruction, a further IndiGo extension through October 10 or beyond is likely. Monitor 6e.com throughout today.

Akasa Air — Through October 10

Akasa Air, India’s newest commercial airline, cancelled its Riyadh services through October 10. Akasa operates from Delhi and Mumbai to Riyadh. Contact akasaair.com for rebooking or refund.

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✈️ PART 4: Philippine Airlines — Through at Least October 10

Philippine Airlines cancelled Riyadh services through at least October 10. The Philippines has approximately 1.1 million nationals working in Saudi Arabia — Manila–Riyadh is one of the Philippines’ highest-priority OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) routes. PAL’s suspension directly affects Filipino workers commuting between Manila and Riyadh.

Contact philippineairlines.com for affected ticket rebooking. The Philippine government’s OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) has historically provided support for OFW passengers stranded by Middle East aviation disruptions — check owwa.gov.ph for any specific support measures.

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⚡ PART 5: Delta October 23 Launch — The Decision Point

The escalating violence also raises questions about Delta Air Lines’ planned October 23 launch of nonstop flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, while Riyadh Air faces particular challenges to its rapidly expanding network.

Delta has not publicly postponed the October 23 launch as of this article’s publication. But consider the decision environment Delta’s leadership now faces:

• October 8: Saudia A320 destroyed at the gate at King Khalid International Airport
• October 9: Lufthansa Group — arguably the world’s gold standard for aviation safety assessment — suspends through October 16
• October 9: Four Indian carriers simultaneously withdraw
• October 9: Houthis explicitly warn “all global airlines in Saudi airspace” are targets
• October 23 launch date: Two weeks away

Delta’s situation is further complicated by commercial factors. In July, Delta President Peter Carter acknowledged that advance bookings were softer than anticipated, while independent examinations of airline seat maps suggested extremely limited early reservations on some departures.

A route with soft bookings launching into an airport where a commercial jet was destroyed at the gate two weeks earlier would be an extraordinary decision. Delta’s safety leadership will almost certainly conduct a formal threat assessment before October 23.

For Delta passengers with Atlanta–Riyadh bookings from October 23 onwards: Monitor delta.com daily. If Delta postpones or cancels the route, you are entitled to a full cash refund under US DOT rules — unconditional, regardless of cause. Do not make non-refundable travel arrangements (hotels, transfers, visa processing) connected to this flight until Delta formally confirms the October 23 launch is proceeding.

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🌍 PART 6: Market-by-Market Guide

🇬🇧 UK Travellers on Lufthansa Group

UK passengers who booked Riyadh connections via Frankfurt, Munich or Zurich on Lufthansa, Swiss or Austrian are most directly affected. These are common routings for UK business travellers connecting to Saudi Arabia via Continental European hubs.

Your UK261 rights: UK261 applies to flights departing from UK airports. If your UK-originating flight to a Lufthansa Group hub (Frankfurt, Munich or Zurich) was part of a single ticket to Riyadh, and Lufthansa Group has cancelled the onward Riyadh sector, you are entitled to rerouting to your final destination via an alternative route, or a full refund of the entire ticket.

The crucial point on rerouting: Under UK261, if your final destination is Riyadh and the airline cancels any sector, you can demand rerouting to Riyadh via an alternative carrier — even if that carrier charges more. Lufthansa must arrange and pay for the alternative routing. You do not have to accept a partial refund for the cancelled Riyadh sector only.

🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇨🇭 German, Austrian and Swiss Travellers

You are the primary affected European audience for Lufthansa Group’s Riyadh suspension. EU261 rights apply in full to your Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna or Zurich-departing flights. Your rights are identical to UK261 — full refund or rerouting, plus care rights (meals and hotel) if you face a significant delay as a result of the cancellation.

🇦🇺 🇳🇿 Australian and New Zealand Travellers

Australian passengers who booked Riyadh via Lufthansa Group connections — for example, Sydney → Singapore → Frankfurt → Riyadh — have the Riyadh sector suspended. Contact Lufthansa directly. Your Qantas or Singapore Airlines long-haul inbound sector is likely unaffected — the suspension is specifically on the Riyadh end.

🇺🇸 US Travellers

US passengers on United Airlines (a Star Alliance partner) connections through Frankfurt to Riyadh may find their Lufthansa-operated Riyadh sector cancelled. Contact United Airlines about the impact on your full itinerary. Under US DOT rules, if a US carrier or its codeshare partner cancels any sector of your ticket, you are entitled to rebooking at no extra cost or a full cash refund.

🇨🇦 Canadian Travellers

Canadian passengers who routed through Zurich (Swiss), Frankfurt (Lufthansa) or Vienna (Austrian) to Riyadh face the same suspension. Air Canada codeshares extensively with Lufthansa Group through Star Alliance — contact Air Canada to understand the impact on your specific booking and your APPR entitlements.

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🛡️ PART 7: EU261 and UK261 Rights — Detailed Guide for European Carrier Passengers

This section is your complete legal reference for claiming your rights from Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian.

What You Are Entitled To — The Basics

Under EU Regulation 261/2004 and its UK equivalent (UK261), when an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to choose between:

Option A — Full Refund: A complete refund of your ticket price to your original form of payment, for all unused portions of your journey. If you are midway through your trip, you are also entitled to a return flight to your original departure point at no extra cost.

Option B — Rerouting: Rebooking on an alternative flight to your final destination at the earliest opportunity, or at a later date at your convenience.

You choose. The airline cannot make this decision for you.

The Extraordinary Circumstances Question

A Houthi missile attack on a civilian airport is almost certainly classified as extraordinary circumstances — outside the airline’s control. This removes Lufthansa Group’s obligation to pay fixed cash compensation (€250/€400/€600 per person based on route distance).

However — and this is the critical point many passengers miss — extraordinary circumstances never removes:

• Your right to choose between a full refund or rebooking
• Your right to meals and refreshments during a delay of 2+ hours
• Your right to hotel accommodation if stranded overnight
• Your right to transport to and from the hotel
• Your right to two phone calls or emails

Compensation Table

Key rule: Even though fixed cash compensation is not payable, your refund right is unconditional. An airline that offers you a voucher and claims extraordinary circumstances is using the correct defence for compensation — but incorrectly applying it to the refund. Always demand the cash refund separately.

How to Claim Your Refund or Rebooking

Step 1 — Identify your ticket type:

• EU-departing on Lufthansa, Swiss or Austrian → EU261 applies
• UK-departing on any carrier → UK261 applies
• US-departing → US DOT rules apply
• Canadian-departing → APPR applies

Step 2 — Contact the airline directly:

• Lufthansa: lh.com → My Bookings → Cancel/Refund
• Swiss: swiss.com → Manage Booking → Cancellation
• Austrian: austrian.com → Manage My Booking

Step 3 — Request explicitly: Write exactly this: “Under [EU261/UK261], I am requesting a full cash refund to my original form of payment for the cancelled Riyadh sector and all associated journey costs. I do not accept a voucher.”

Step 4 — If refused or only offered a voucher:

• EU passengers: File with your national aviation authority (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt for Germany, Austro Control for Austria, BAZL for Switzerland)
• UK passengers: File with the UK Civil Aviation Authority at caa.co.uk
• Alternative: Use an ADR scheme — AirHelp, Flightright or your airline’s designated scheme

Step 5 — Claim care expenses: Submit receipts for meals, hotel and transport incurred as a result of the cancellation via the airline’s expense reimbursement portal within 28 days of the disruption.

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📊 PART 8: APPR Rights for Canadian Passengers

Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations apply to flights departing from Canadian airports. If you booked a Canadian-departing itinerary that connects through a Lufthansa Group hub to Riyadh:

Contact Air Canada (aircanada.com) if you have a Canadian-originating ticket with a Lufthansa Group Riyadh sector.

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✅ PART 9: Complete Action Checklist — By Airline

If You Are on Lufthansa (LH) to Riyadh through October 16:

1. Go to lh.com → My Bookings right now
2. Select “Cancel booking” or “Rebook”
3. Request a full cash refund in the “Comments” field — not a voucher
4. If rebooking: Lufthansa will offer alternatives via Dubai or Doha connections — confirm your new routing
5. If rebooking to a later date: Do not book past October 16 without checking the suspension extension status

If You Are on Swiss (LX) to Riyadh through October 16:

1. Go to swiss.com → Manage Booking
2. Select your affected Riyadh flight
3. Choose refund or rebooking — state clearly you want a cash refund if cancelling
4. Swiss will reroute you through Zurich connections via Dubai or Doha to Riyadh if rebooking

If You Are on Austrian (OS) to Riyadh through October 16:

1. Go to austrian.com → Manage My Booking
2. Select your affected Riyadh flight
3. Request cash refund or rebooking
4. Austrian’s Vienna hub connects to Riyadh via Istanbul or Doha as alternative routings

If You Are on Air India (AI) to Riyadh through October 10:

1. Go to airindia.com → Manage
2. Check whether your flight is confirmed as cancelled
3. Request a full refund or free rebooking to October 11 or later
4. If your Delhi–Riyadh flight is returning to Delhi mid-route: Air India must arrange a hotel and meals if you are stranded in Delhi overnight

If You Are on IndiGo (6E) to Riyadh TODAY:

1. Act immediately — your flight is cancelled today
2. Go to 6e.com or the IndiGo app
3. Request a full refund or rebooking to October 10 (noting the situation may extend)
4. IndiGo’s customer care: 0124 6173838

If You Are on Akasa Air to Riyadh through October 10:

1. Go to akasaair.com → Manage Booking
2. Request a full refund or rebook to October 11 or later
3. Monitor akasaair.com for any extension beyond October 10

If You Are on Philippine Airlines to Riyadh through October 10:

1. Go to philippineairlines.com → Manage Booking
2. Request a full refund or rebook
3. OFW passengers: Check owwa.gov.ph for any government assistance programmes

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🔗 Related Articles

• Saudia Airbus A320 DESTROYED at Riyadh Airport — Houthi Missile October 8 — 300 Cancellations, Airport Closed — Full Passenger Emergency Guide
• Houthi Missiles Kill 3 and Injure 36 at TWO Saudi Airports in 24 Hours — Abha and Riyadh October 6–7, 2026
• Cathay Pacific Cancels Dubai and Riyadh Until January 31, 2027 — Full October 7 Middle East Status Board
• Middle East Aviation Chaos October 7, 2026 — 1,692 Delays, Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, Bahrain, Jordan
• UAE Flights October 7, 2026 LIVE — Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia — Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil Cancelled

🌐 Official Sources

• Lufthansa Group suspension — lufthansagroup.com/en/media.html
• Turkiye Today — Lufthansa suspension confirmed — turkiyetoday.com
• Simple Flying — Full airline suspension list — simpleflying.com
• Aviation Week — Riyadh second attack — aviationweek.com
• Air India rebooking — airindia.com/manage-booking
• IndiGo rebooking — 6e.com
• Akasa Air rebooking — akasaair.com
• Philippine Airlines rebooking — philippineairlines.com
• UK CAA passenger rights — caa.co.uk
• EU261 full text — eur-lex.europa.eu

Posted By : Vinay

As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.