Air India Express Restores Middle East Operations: Full Schedule Details

Air India Express has officially reinstated its full flight operations across the Middle East, marking the end of service suspensions to key destinations like Kuwait and Salalah. This strategic move strengthens the carrier's connectivity between major Indian hubs and the Gulf region, catering to a significant surge in travel demand.

Restored Routes and Increasing Flight Frequencies

The airline has executed a phased restoration of its services, starting with the Kozhikode-Salalah sector which resumed on July 2. Following this, services to Kuwait are being rolled out from major Indian gateways including Kozhikode and Bengaluru.

To meet passenger demand, Air India Express is rapidly scaling up flight frequencies. For the Kozhikode-Kuwait route, services will begin with one flight per week on July 3, before expanding to three weekly services starting July 5. Similarly, the Bengaluru-Kuwait route will launch with a single weekly flight on July 4, increasing to three flights per week by July 7.

Detailed Flight Schedules and Timings

For travelers planning their journeys, the airline has provided specific schedules for the newly restored routes:

Kozhikode – Salalah (Effective July 2)

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

Kozhikode – Kuwait (Phased Expansion)

  • Initial Service (July 3): Departs 07:30 | Arrives 10:05 (Friday)
  • Expanded Service (July 5): Departs 02:15 | Arrives 04:50 (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)

Bengaluru – Kuwait (Phased Expansion)

  • Initial Service (July 4): Departs 02:25 | Arrives 04:50 (Friday)
  • Expanded Service (July 7): Departs 02:25 | Arrives 04:50 (Monday, Tuesday, Saturday)

All Kuwait-bound and Kuwait-originating flights will operate through Terminal 4 at Kuwait International Airport.

Strengthening the Middle East Network

With the resumption of Salalah services, Air India Express has reclaimed its presence at both Muscat International and Salalah International Airports in Oman. The airline also restored the Muscat-Mangaluru route on July 3 and currently operates approximately 40 weekly services from Muscat to seven Indian destinations.

The airline's Middle East network now spans 13 destinations, covering 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 the region.

Rapid Network Expansion Across India

Beyond the Middle East, the airline is aggressively expanding its domestic and international 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. Following these expansions, the Bengaluru hub will operate around 415 weekly flights to 30 domestic and seven international destinations.

Key Takeaways

  • Full Restoration: Air India Express has resumed all Middle East operations, including critical routes to Kuwait and Salalah.
  • Increased Connectivity: Flight frequencies to Kuwait from Kozhikode and Bengaluru will scale from one to three weekly flights by early July.
  • Massive Network Reach: The airline now operates 780 weekly flights linking 18 Indian cities to 13 Middle Eastern destinations.