Air India Express expands West Asia network with Kuwait, Salalah and Muscat services

Air India Express has expanded its West Asia network with the resumption of services to Kuwait, Salalah and Muscat, restoring connectivity on routes that were disrupted during the recent regional conflict.

According to Representative Image, flights between Kozhikode and Salalah resumed on 2 July, while Kozhikode-Kuwait services restart on 3 July. The airline will also resume Bengaluru-Kuwait flights from 4 July, with frequencies set to increase in phases over the coming days.

The latest additions complete the restoration of the carrier's scheduled operations across its West Asia network.

More flights strengthen India-Gulf connectivity

As part of the network expansion:

• Kozhikode-Salalah will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Muscat-Mangaluru services resumed from 3 July.
• Air India Express now operates around 40 weekly flights from Muscat to seven destinations in India.
• All flights to and from Kuwait will operate from Terminal 4 at Kuwait International Airport.

The airline said the expanded schedule will also increase connectivity from its major southern hubs.

Following the latest route restorations:

• Bengaluru will have around 415 weekly flights, connecting the city with 30 domestic and seven international destinations.
• Kozhikode will operate around 85 weekly flights, linking the city with 13 destinations across West Asia and Bengaluru.

West Asia remains a key international market

With the restored services, Air India Express now connects India with 13 destinations across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The airline currently operates approximately 780 weekly flights between India and West Asia, providing direct connectivity from 18 Indian cities.

In recent weeks, the carrier has also expanded its international and domestic network by launching new routes including:

• Navi Mumbai-Abu Dhabi
• Guwahati-Abu Dhabi
• Guwahati-Dubai
• Bengaluru-Phuket
• Pune-Amritsar

Regional outlook improves

The route restorations come as airlines gradually normalise operations following disruptions caused by the recent West Asia conflict, which resulted in repeated airspace closures and operational constraints across the region.

Earlier on Thursday, Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson told employees that the airline could restore some of the flights reduced during the conflict if easing regional tensions continue to improve airspace availability and keep jet fuel prices lower, according to the report.

The Air India Group's low-cost carrier had temporarily suspended several West Asia services during the conflict involving the US-Israel coalition and Iran.

According to the report, the regional crisis, which began on 28 February, pushed up energy prices, including aviation turbine fuel, before fuel costs eased in recent weeks alongside continuing peace talks. Lower fuel prices and improved access to regional airspace are expected to support the gradual recovery of airline operations across the Gulf.