Air India and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, are making headlines for two very different reasons this October. On one hand, Air India is forging new partnerships to expand its international reach, most recently with Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines. On the other, Air India Express is slashing hundreds of flights from Kerala to Gulf countries, a move that’s set to ripple through the lives of thousands of Indian expatriate workers and their families.
Let’s start with the changes closest to home for many in Kerala. According to Mathrubhumi, Air India Express will reduce or cancel more than 300 Gulf-bound flights from Kerala starting October 26, 2025, as part of its winter schedule. This is no small adjustment: the state will lose an average of 56,000 seats every month. The impact will be felt most acutely at Kannur International Airport, which is already operating with fewer international services compared to other major airports in the region.
Flights from Karipur (Calicut) and Kannur to Kuwait were discontinued as of October 1, 2025. In addition, services from Cochin to Salalah and Riyadh, and from Kannur to Bahrain, Jeddah, and Dammam, are also being axed. From Thiruvananthapuram, flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be withdrawn. The numbers are striking: Calicut’s flights to Dammam will drop from seven per week to just three, Sharjah from nine to six, Ras Al Khaimah from seven to four, and Muscat from seven to three. Cochin’s flights to Bahrain will be halved, and its Abu Dhabi and Dubai services trimmed as well. Kannur, already under-served, will see its Abu Dhabi flights fall from ten to seven weekly, Dubai from eight to seven, Sharjah from twelve to seven, Muscat from seven to four, and Ras Al Khaimah from three to two. Thiruvananthapuram’s Muscat flights will reduce from seven to four, Doha from four to two, Bahrain will lose one flight, Riyadh will be reduced to a single weekly flight, and Sharjah from seven to five.
Altogether, Air India Express is reducing its weekly flights from 96 to just 54 on routes connecting Kerala with major Gulf cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Jeddah, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dammam, Ras Al Khaimah, and Muscat. Weekly reductions include 25 flights from Calicut, 11 from Cochin, and 18 from Thiruvananthapuram. But it is Kannur that suffers the most severe blow, losing 21 weekly services—adding up to 42 weekly cancellations when return flights are counted.
These cuts come at a time when Kannur International Airport has been experiencing a surge in international travelers. In July and August 2025 alone, the airport recorded over 100,000 international passengers, and flights to Jeddah were operating at over 95% occupancy. The vast majority of Air India Express passengers are ordinary expatriate workers, many of whom rely on the airline’s budget-friendly fares to maintain connections with their families and livelihoods in the Gulf. Despite Air India Express being under the Tata Group, it still holds a special place as a national carrier for many in the region.
While one arm of Air India is contracting, the other is reaching outward. On October 8, 2025, Air India announced a new interline partnership with Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines, as reported by Dhan. This move is set to enhance connectivity across Asia, offering Air India customers access to Taipei through five Southeast Asian gateways—Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Kuala Lumpur. In return, Starlux Airlines customers gain access to four major Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
The agreement is designed to make travel more convenient and flexible. Passengers can now book single-ticket itineraries that combine flights from both airlines, with coordinated baggage handling to ensure a seamless experience. For business travelers and tourists alike, this means less hassle and more options when planning multi-leg journeys between India and East Asia.
Starlux Airlines, though a relative newcomer in the aviation industry, already operates an impressive network of over 30 routes from Taiwan, including destinations in the United States, Japan, and various Asian countries. The partnership with Air India is expected to open up new possibilities for leisure travelers and business professionals, especially as economic ties between India and Taiwan continue to strengthen.
This collaboration follows closely on the heels of Air India’s September 2025 partnership with Air Astana, which expanded connectivity to Kazakhstan with trunk routes between Almaty and Delhi, and Almaty and Mumbai. These strategic moves are all part of Air India’s broader efforts to expand its international network and improve travel options for its customers.
What does all this mean for the average traveler? For those based in Kerala and reliant on Air India Express, the reduction in Gulf flights is a bitter pill to swallow. The Gulf region has long been a lifeline for many families in Kerala, with remittances and personal travel forming the backbone of countless household economies. The loss of 56,000 seats per month will not only make travel more difficult and expensive for expatriate workers but could also impact the region’s economic and social fabric.
For Air India’s international ambitions, however, the news is far more upbeat. The partnership with Starlux Airlines is expected to boost route options, convenience, and baggage handling for passengers, as well as improve Asian connectivity overall. By tapping into the growing market for travel between India and East Asia, Air India is positioning itself as a key player in the international aviation market. The collaboration is also expected to facilitate easier movement of business professionals and tourists, further strengthening economic ties between India and Taiwan.
Industry observers note that these contrasting developments reflect the complex realities facing airlines in the post-pandemic world. While there is clear demand for expanded international connectivity, especially in emerging business corridors, airlines are also under pressure to optimize routes, manage costs, and respond to shifting patterns of demand. For Air India Express, this has meant tough decisions about where to allocate limited resources. For Air India, it has meant seeking out new partnerships to stay competitive in a crowded global market.
As both arms of Air India chart their respective courses, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the communities and economies they serve. For Kerala’s Gulf-bound workers, the coming months will bring new challenges. For travelers eager to explore or do business across Asia, new doors are opening—sometimes in unexpected places. The skies, it seems, are as turbulent as ever, but also full of possibility.
