Flight services connecting Kerala with Saudi Arabia and other West Asian destinations have faced fresh cancellations amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region. Disruptions have been reported at Cochin International Airport (CIAL) and Calicut International Airport, affecting passengers travelling between Kerala and key Gulf destinations.
According to CIAL, 10 flight services were reported cancelled over three days, from October 11 to 13. Five of these cancellations involved Akasa Air. Services connecting Kochi with Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha and Ras Al Khaimah were among those affected.
Kochi Flights Face Cancellations
The affected services on October 11 included Flynas flights XY 399/400 between Kochi and Riyadh, Air India Express flights IX 475/476 connecting Kochi and Doha, Akasa Air flights QP 523 to Riyadh and QP 550 to Jeddah, and IndiGo flight 6E 1517 to Ras Al Khaimah.
For October 12, Akasa Air listed cancellations involving flight QP 551 from Jeddah to Kochi, QP 524 from Riyadh to Kochi, and QP 523 from Kochi to Riyadh. Another Akasa Air service, QP 524 from Riyadh to Kochi, was also listed as cancelled for October 13.
Kozhikode-Riyadh Services Disrupted
Calicut International Airport also reported cancellations affecting flights between Kozhikode and Riyadh on October 11 and 12. The affected services included departures operated by Saudia, Flynas and Air India Express, along with arrivals from Riyadh.
However, some Air India, Akasa Air and IndiGo services to Jeddah and Dammam continued to operate as scheduled, according to the report.
Passengers Advised to Check Flight Status
The latest disruptions follow rising security concerns in West Asia, which have affected airport operations and flight schedules. Passengers travelling from Kerala to destinations in the region are advised to verify their flight status with their respective airlines before leaving for the airport.
As the situation remains fluid, travellers should check airline notifications for the latest updates on cancellations and schedule changes.
