Air India Express Reduces Flight Service Between Kuwait & Mangalore: Decision Affects People From Twin Districts

People from the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, working in Kuwait, are upset as Air India Express (AIE), which operated thrice a week between Kuwait and Mangalore, has now reduced service to just one flight a week in its summer schedule. In January, the frequency was reduced from the earlier three flights per week to two. The summer schedule shows that it will operate only one flight a week, which will be every Sunday.

Passengers from neighbouring districts and Kerala also depended on this flight to travel to Kuwait. According to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, on an average every year, close to 20,000 passengers fly between Mangalore and Kuwait sector. People from coastal Karnataka are forced to take flight from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kannur or Goa airport, and later take domestic flights or cabs to reach home. This has also resulted in additional travel time and extra expense.