Air India Express Slashes Kerala Gulf Flights, Tharoor Secures Limited Reinstatement

When Air India Express announced a sweeping cut to its Gulf‑bound schedule from Kerala airports effective 26 October 2025, the ripple was immediate. The airline trimmed weekly departures from 96 to just 54, shaving roughly 56,000 seats each month and leaving thousands of Malayali expatriates scrambling for alternatives. The shockwaves were felt especially at Kannur International Airport, where over 100,000 international travelers had passed through in July‑August alone.

Background: Kerala’s Reliance on Low‑Cost Gulf Links

Kerala has long been India’s top source of labor migration to the Gulf, a relationship forged over decades of oil‑boom demand. Budget carriers like Air India Express, owned by the Tata Group since its 2022 privatization, have become the lifeline for workers heading to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah and beyond. The airline’s low‑fare model lets a family in Kozhikode send a paycheck to a relative in Muscat without burning a hole in their pocket.

In recent years, the carrier expanded slots across the four major Kerala airports – Calicut International Airport, Cochin International Airport, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and Kannur International Airport. By 2024 the carrier was operating more than 120 weekly flights to seven Gulf hubs, a figure that cemented its role as the de‑facto carrier for the state’s diaspora.

Scope of the October 2025 Flight Reductions

According to the revised schedule, the airline cut 25 flights from Calicut, 11 from Cochin, 18 from Thiruvananthapuram and a staggering 21 from Kannur – a total of 42 weekly cancellations when return legs are counted. In raw numbers, that translates to 168 fewer international services per month from Kannur alone. Specific routes erased from the roster include all flights to Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam and Jeddah; frequencies to Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Muscat were also slashed.

For instance, Kozhikode‑Muscat services dropped from seven to three weekly flights, while the once‑daily Kozhikode‑Ras Al Khaimah run fell from seven to four. Thiruvananthapuram‑Doha was reduced to two weekly legs, and every Bahrain flight from the capital was cancelled outright.

• Weekly flights cut: 96 → 54
• Monthly seat loss: ~56,000
• Kannur cuts: 21 weekly services, 168 monthly flights
• Key routes cancelled: Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Jeddah
• Reinstated routes (pending): Dubai (28 Oct), Abu Dhabi (3 Dec)

Community Backlash and Political Response

The announcement triggered a flurry of protests on social media and at the terminals. Expatriate groups in the Gulf organized petitions, claiming the cuts would cripple remittance flows that fund roughly 30 % of Kerala’s household income.

Amid the uproar, Shashi Tharoor, the Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, stepped in. In a tweet he wrote, “Delighted to learn from @AirIndiaX that their flight operations are picking up from/to Thiruvananthapuram. As promised to me in my meeting with them, they will be reinstating Dubai flights from 28 Oct and Abu Dhabi services from 3 Dec.”

Tharoor’s intervention followed letters addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, where the community’s concerns were laid out in stark terms.

“Our people depend on these flights for their livelihoods,” Tharoor told reporters on 27 October. “A sudden 44 % reduction is not just an inconvenience – it’s an economic shock.”

Air India Express’s Rationale and Future Roadmap

The airline’s spokesperson framed the cuts as part of a “broader route restructuring plan” aimed at optimizing load factors and cutting operating costs. “We are aligning capacity with demand,” the official said, adding that the reductions are temporary and that by 2026 the carrier expects to operate 231 international and 245 domestic services from Kerala.

Air India Express also highlighted its recent strategic moves: a new interline partnership with Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines announced on 8 October 2025, and the launch of a direct Mangalore‑Thiruvananthapuram flight on 27 October, shaving travel time between the two coastal cities from roughly nine hours by rail to an 80‑minute air hop.

Industry analysts note that the Tata Group’s ownership means the airline is shifting from a purely public‑service mindset to a profit‑driven model. “Privatization brings efficiency, but it also forces tough capacity decisions,” says Ramesh Iyer, senior analyst at Aviation Insights. “The Kerala market is unique – high demand, but also high price sensitivity.”

Broader Implications for Kerala’s Expatriate Economy

Kerala’s remittances have consistently topped $20 billion annually, a figure that supports everything from private schools to health clinics. A cut of 56,000 seats a month could reduce the volume of travelers by an estimated 12 %, potentially shaving off $250 million in yearly remittances, according to a study by the Centre for Development Economics.

Small businesses that cater to travelers – from taxi fleets to airport eateries – are already reporting a dip in footfall. “We’ve seen a 15 % drop in customers since the schedule change,” says Anil Kumar, owner of a shuttle service at Calicut Airport.

On the flip side, the airline’s promise to expand routes by 2026 could open new corridors to lesser‑served Gulf towns, diversifying Kerala’s travel options beyond the traditional hubs.

What’s Next? Monitoring Reinstated Routes and Potential Adjustments

The reinstated Dubai flights from Thiruvananthapuram are slated to begin on 28 October, with the Abu Dhabi service following on 3 December. Travelers are advised to book early as seats are expected to fill quickly.

Watch‑dogs will be tracking load factors on the restored routes; if occupancy exceeds 80 %, Air India Express may consider adding frequencies, as it did with the Mangalore‑Thiruvananthapuram link after an initial trial period.

Meanwhile, the airline has opened a dedicated helpline for affected passengers and pledged to review the schedule each quarter, a move that could temper future disruptions.