Air India Express Restores Kerala Flights After UAE Expats’ Appeal
<h3><strong>Air India Express Reinstates Kerala Flights: A Big Win for Indian Expats in UAE</strong></h3><p>Indian expats in the UAE are celebrating a major victory as <strong>Air India Express</strong> has reinstated several key flights to Kerala that were reportedly set to be cancelled in the upcoming winter schedule. The move follows widespread appeals from Indian community groups, Kerala Members of Parliament (MPs), and intervention from the central government after reports surfaced of possible service disruptions.</p><h3><strong>Background: Concerns Over Cancellations</strong></h3><p>Earlier reports suggested that <strong>Air India Express</strong> was planning to cancel or significantly reduce flights between major Kerala airports — including <strong>Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur</strong> — and Gulf destinations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The alleged cancellations, which were expected to take effect from late October through March, caused alarm among the large Indian expatriate community in the UAE, many of whom rely on these routes for regular travel between the Gulf and Kerala.</p><p>In response, the <strong>Indian Association Sharjah (IAS)</strong>, one of the most active community groups in the UAE, sent an appeal to <strong>Prime Minister Narendra Modi</strong> and the <strong>Civil Aviation Ministry</strong>, urging them to reconsider the decision. Gulf News first reported on this appeal, which quickly gained traction among expats and policymakers alike.</p><h3><strong>Community and Political Intervention</strong></h3><p>The strong reaction from the expatriate community, along with intervention by political leaders from Kerala, proved effective. <strong>Shashi Tharoor</strong>, Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, personally took up the issue with the airline. On social media, he announced that Air India Express had agreed to <strong>reinstate flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai starting October 28</strong>, with <strong>Abu Dhabi services resuming from December 3</strong>.</p><p>In his post, Tharoor expressed gratitude to the airline for fulfilling its commitment and also mentioned that <strong>Air India will operate aircraft with business class configuration</strong> on the <strong>Thiruvananthapuram–Delhi</strong> route three times daily. He extended festive wishes to air travellers ahead of Diwali, calling the development a “Deepawali gift” for Keralites.</p><h3><strong>Winter Schedule Adjustments and Travel Relief</strong></h3><p>Travel agencies in the UAE have confirmed receiving updated notifications from Air India Express about the <strong>continuation of Kerala-Gulf services</strong> that were initially expected to be dropped.</p><p>According to <strong>Sudheesh TP</strong>, General Manager of Deira Travel and Tourist Agency, the airline had originally planned to suspend flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the entire winter period. However, after public and political pressure, the decision was reversed.</p><blockquote><p>“The airline has reinstated Dubai flights starting from October 28, and the Abu Dhabi route will resume for the winter holidays,” Sudheesh said. “Passengers can now start booking tickets for the winter travel season.”</p></blockquote><p>He added that while <strong>flight frequencies from Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur</strong> have been reduced slightly, there are <strong>no complete cancellations</strong> on those routes.</p><h3><strong>High Demand During Festive Season</strong></h3><p>Winter is one of the busiest travel periods for Keralites living in the UAE. With <strong>Christmas, New Year, and school holidays</strong>, demand for seats between Kerala and Gulf cities traditionally surges. Travel agents note that the reinstatement of these flights will bring immense relief to thousands of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who had already planned their holidays around this period.</p><p>While there will be a brief service gap between <strong>October 28 and December 2</strong> on the Thiruvananthapuram–Abu Dhabi route, normal operations are expected to resume smoothly from <strong>December 3</strong> with <strong>three weekly flights</strong>.</p><h3><strong>Community Reaction: A Victory for Collective Action</strong></h3><p>For the Indian community in the UAE, this development is being hailed as a <strong>collective success</strong> that highlights the power of community advocacy. <strong>Nissar Thalangara</strong>, president of the Indian Association Sharjah, who spearheaded the appeal, expressed gratitude to both the Indian and Kerala governments.</p><blockquote><p>“This is a big win for us,” Thalangara said. “We took this matter up with the Prime Minister, Civil Aviation Minister, and MPs from Kerala. Their support and understanding of our concerns have helped make this possible.”</p></blockquote><p>He also emphasised that this decision demonstrates the government’s recognition of the <strong>crucial role played by NRIs</strong> in strengthening India’s economy through remittances and investments.</p><h3><strong>Looking Ahead</strong></h3><p>As <strong>Air India Express</strong> continues to realign its global network under the broader <strong>Air India Group</strong>, such community-driven interventions highlight the need for <strong>balanced scheduling</strong> that considers both operational efficiency and passenger convenience.</p><p>The reinstatement of Kerala flights not only restores travel confidence but also reinforces the strong bond between India’s aviation sector and its vast expatriate base in the Gulf.</p><p>For now, Indian expats can breathe easy — and celebrate Diwali with the assurance that their journey home for the winter holidays is back on track.</p>