Travel this week pulled in two directions. Attacks in the Gulf disrupted flights to Saudi Arabia, while new links opened eastward to Vietnam and Thailand. Closer to home, visas and highways both got practical updates worth knowing about.

Flights to Saudi Arabia cancelled as attacks continue

Indian airlines have cancelled or suspended flights to Saudi Arabia after drone and missile attacks on Saudi airports and energy sites, with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirming the latest cancellations on 23 October. As of that date, IndiGo had cancelled Riyadh flights through 31 October and Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah flights through 27 October, while Akasa Air had suspended Jeddah flights to 10 November and Riyadh flights to 30 November. If you or your family are travelling for work or Umrah, check directly with your airline before setting out. The embassy has suggested that anyone needing to leave urgently consider transiting through Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar, subject to visas, and Indian missions are running round-the-clock control rooms. What travellers need to know.

China visa applications move to the embassy and Mumbai consulate

From 26 October, Chinese visa applications in India will be accepted and processed directly by the Chinese Embassy and the Consulate General in Mumbai, according to an embassy notice dated 22 October. The change covers consular legalisation of documents as well as visas. Applicants from the Kolkata consular district will be served by the embassy for now. If a trip to China is on your list, check the embassy website for documents and appointments before you apply. Our explainer.

IndiGo now flies Mumbai to Hanoi daily

IndiGo’s daily direct flight between Mumbai and Hanoi was scheduled to begin on 25 October, leaving Mumbai at 4.15 am and reaching Hanoi at 10 am local time, with the return leaving Hanoi at 7.05 pm. Vietnam has become a favourite short-haul escape for Indian travellers, and a morning arrival makes a long weekend in the north of the country far more realistic. Flight details.

Guwahati gets a direct link to Bangkok

IndiGo will fly between Guwahati and Bangkok, with an inaugural flight on 27 October and regular twice-weekly flights from 31 October, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is the airline’s first international service from Guwahati, and it gives travellers across the Northeast a way to reach Southeast Asia without first flying west to a metro hub. Read more.

Better toilets and parking at toll plazas

NHAI issued guidelines on 23 October to upgrade toilets and parking at toll plazas. Each covered plaza must have at least one accessible toilet, along with better lighting, CCTV and sanitary napkin vending machines to help women and families travelling at night. Sensors will track water, cleanliness and faults, and you can report problems through QR codes linked to the Rajmargyatra app. Parking areas will get marked bays, better drainage and space for future electric vehicle charging. No deadline has been set, but it tackles one of the most common complaints on Indian road trips. Our report.

The one to watch

The Bengaluru to Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper. Reports this week say it could be flagged off on 1 November, with an overnight journey of about 16 hours and expected stops including Solapur and Pune. The proposed timings would see it leave Bengaluru at 7.50 pm and reach Mumbai at 11.55 am the next day, about six hours quicker than some existing direct trains. Indian Railways has not yet published the final schedule or fares, so wait for official confirmation before planning around it. What we know so far.

Sources