Air India Express Restores Middle East Flights: Full Schedule and Routes

Air India Express has officially resumed its full suite of Middle East operations, bringing back vital connections to Kuwait and Salalah. This strategic restoration marks the end of flight suspensions in the region, significantly boosting connectivity for Indian travelers and the diaspora.

Resumption of Kuwait and Salalah Services

The airline has successfully reinstated its services to Oman and Kuwait, addressing long-standing travel demands. The Kozhikode-Salalah sector resumed operations on July 2, while services connecting Kozhikode to Kuwait are scheduled to restart on July 3. Additionally, Bengaluru-to-Kuwait flights are set to commence from July 4.

To meet the expected surge in passenger volume, Air India Express is implementing a phased increase in flight frequencies. For the Kozhikode-Kuwait route, the airline will start with one weekly flight on July 3, rapidly expanding to three weekly services by July 5. Similarly, the Bengaluru-Kuwait route will begin with a single weekly flight on July 4, scaling up to three flights per week starting July 7.

Detailed Flight Schedule and Connectivity

The airline has provided specific schedules for the newly restored routes to assist passengers with planning:

Kozhikode – Salalah (Effective July 2)

  • Kozhikode to Salalah: 11:00 – 13:05 (Tuesday, Thursday)
  • Salalah to Kozhikode: 14:15 – 19:45 (Tuesday, Thursday)

Kozhikode – Kuwait (Effective July 3/5)

  • Initial Service: Friday only (07:30 departure)
  • Expanded Service (from July 5): Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday (02:15 departure)

Bengaluru – Kuwait (Effective July 4/7)

  • Initial Service: Friday only (02:25 departure)
  • Expanded Service (from July 7): Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday (02:25 departure)

Notably, all flights involving Kuwait will operate through Terminal 4 at Kuwait International Airport.

Strengthening the Middle East Network

With the return of Salalah, Air India Express has restored its presence at both Muscat and Salalah International Airports in Oman. The carrier also resumed Muscat-Mangaluru flights on July 3 and currently operates approximately 40 weekly services from Muscat to seven Indian cities.

The airline’s Middle East network now encompasses 13 destinations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. In total, Air India Express operates roughly 780 weekly flights linking 18 Indian cities directly to this critical economic region.

Strategic Network Expansion

Beyond the Middle East, the airline is aggressively expanding its broader footprint. Recent additions include new routes such as Navi Mumbai to Abu Dhabi, Guwahati to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Bengaluru to Phuket, and Pune to Amritsar. In Bengaluru, the airline now operates around 415 weekly flights, connecting the city to 30 domestic and seven international destinations. From its Kozhikode hub, the carrier operates about 85 weekly flights, linking the city to Bengaluru and 13 Middle Eastern destinations.

Key Takeaways

  • Full Restoration: Air India Express has completed the restoration of its Middle East operations, specifically targeting Kuwait and Salalah.
  • Phased Frequency Increase: Flight frequencies for Kuwait routes from both Kozhikode and Bengaluru will scale from one to three weekly services within the first week of resumption.
  • Robust Regional Presence: The airline now manages a massive network of 780 weekly flights connecting 18 Indian cities to 13 destinations across the Middle East.