India opens extra 24×7 control room in Makkah for Umrah pilgrims hit by Saudi flight cancellations

The Consulate General of India in Jeddah has opened an additional round-the-clock control room in Makkah to assist Indian nationals, especially Umrah pilgrims, whose travel has been thrown into disarray by flight cancellations between India and Saudi Arabia. The move was announced on 14 and 15 October, according to Business Today and ANI.

Where to get help

The new desk is located at the Indian Haj Pilgrims Office (IHPO) in Makkah. The consulate’s existing 24×7 control room in Jeddah continues to function alongside it.

• Makkah helpline: +966 553646966
• Jeddah helplines: +966 12 2614093 and +966 556122301
• Jeddah WhatsApp: +966 536209704
• Email: pbskcgi@gmail.com

The consulate has asked travellers to confirm the status of their flights with airlines before setting out for the airport, to stay in touch with their travel agents or Umrah operators, and to firm up revised travel and hotel arrangements before taking further decisions, Business Today reported. It said it was coordinating with airlines and Saudi authorities and would post updates on its official social media accounts.

Why flights are disrupted

The disruption follows Houthi drone and missile strikes inside Saudi Arabia, ANI reported. Operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh have been suspended, while airports at Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam have continued to function with some delays and cancellations, according to an Indian Embassy advisory cited by Siasat Daily.

Indian airline schedules

• IndiGo has cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah up to and including 24 October, Siasat Daily reported.
• Akasa Air has extended its suspension of Riyadh flights to 24 October and Jeddah flights to 21 October, and is offering full refunds or free rescheduling.
• Air India and Air India Express have suspended services to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah; Gulf Business listed the suspension as running through 20 October, while some later updates gave a longer date. Passengers should check directly with the airline.
• Saudia has continued scheduled services from Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam, according to the embassy advisory.

Indians who need to leave urgently were advised that routes through Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar were an option, though visas for those countries would be required, Siasat Daily reported. The embassy in Riyadh has also urged Indian residents to follow local safety instructions, according to ANI.

Sources: Business Today, Devdiscourse (ANI), Siasat Daily, Gulf Business