Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Air India Express Adds Direct Thiruvananthapuram Gulf Flights
Air India Express is adding two new direct flight routes from Thiruvananthapuram.
Starting October 27, 2026, people will be able to fly directly to Riyadh and Bahrain.
The Riyadh flights will run three days each week.
The Bahrain flights will run two days each week.
Bookings for both routes are open.
There are already daily flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Dammam and Bahrain on other airlines.
The airport says the new routes will give travellers more choices.
They may be especially useful for people from southern Kerala and nearby Tamil Nadu who live or work in Saudi Arabia.
Air India Express will begin direct flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Riyadh and Bahrain on October 27, 2026; bookings are open.
The Riyadh service will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The Bahrain service will operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Saturdays.
The new flights add to existing daily services from Thiruvananthapuram to Dammam by Air India Express and to Bahrain by Gulf Air.
The airport says the Riyadh route will meet longstanding demand and offer more convenient travel for expatriates from southern Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
- Who
- Air India Express and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
- What
- New direct air services from Thiruvananthapuram to Riyadh and Bahrain.
- When
- Starting October 27, 2026.
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, with routes to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
- Why
- To respond to demand for a direct Riyadh connection, improve Gulf connectivity and provide travellers with more options.
Airport and airline rationale
Alternative perspective
Need for new routes
Airport and airline rationale
The airport says a direct Riyadh service addresses longstanding demand and makes travel more convenient, particularly for expatriates from southern Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Alternative perspective
The articles provide no opposing stakeholder view or criticism of the new routes; they note that daily services to Dammam and Bahrain already operate.
- Start date
- October 27, 2026
- Riyadh frequency
- Three times weekly: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
- Bahrain frequency
- Twice weekly: Thursdays and Saturdays
- Bookings
- Open
- Existing Riyadh-region service
- Air India Express already operates daily flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Dammam.
- Existing Bahrain service
- Gulf Air operates daily flights between Thiruvananthapuram and Bahrain.
- Gulf traffic
- Thiruvananthapuram has more than 250 weekly air traffic movements to the Gulf region.
