Kerala flight cuts unlikely to disrupt UAE connectivity, but ticket prices expected to spike during winter season.
Air India Express’ winter schedule adjustments are unlikely to significantly impact UAE-Kerala connectivity, but ticket prices have already surged to Dh1,200–Dh1,400, Gulf News reports. An airline source said these changes are temporary, seasonal shifts driven by travel demand patterns, with normal service expected to resume in the summer schedule starting March, reported gulfnews.com.
Winter schedule adjustments reflect seasonal demand shifts, triggering strong reactions from Kerala expatriates.
Malayalee expatriates have raised concerns, petitioning Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to maintain flight frequencies. Air India Express typically submits winter and summer schedules to India’s DGCA, which reviews and approves routes and frequencies. The official winter schedule is expected mid-October. Indian politician Shashi Tharoor criticized the move, saying, “Air India must stop treating Kerala as an afterthought.”
Travel agents predict record demand this winter due to the extended National Day and school holidays. Safeer Mahmood of Smart Travels said, “Many families, especially with young children, may travel during the long break, creating huge demand for Kerala routes.”
Ticket prices rise amid uncertainty, though UAE connectivity remains stable.
While UAE routes are expected to remain largely unaffected, other GCC markets—Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait—may see temporary reductions. Kozhikode and Kannur airports face the most significant cuts. Air India Express adjusts its network biannually based on passenger data, with winter demand favoring northern Indian destinations like Jaipur and Varanasi.
Return fares to Kerala for December are currently between Dh1,200–Dh1,400, up from the typical Dh800–Dh1,000. Travel agents warn that reduced capacity combined with high demand will likely keep fares elevated throughout the season. Mahmood noted, “Kerala is a high-yield destination. Reducing supply when demand is increasing inevitably drives prices up.” The situation raises questions about affordable connectivity for Kerala’s large Gulf expatriate workforce.
