UAE residents planning to fly home to Kerala for the upcoming winter break may have to dig deeper into their pockets. Travel experts warn that airfares on Kerala-bound routes could rise by as much as 35% this season, even as Air India Express has promised to restore the flights it had earlier planned to cut from October 15.
At present, one-way fares to Kerala during the December holidays start from Dh1,500, compared to Dh800 to Dh1,200 during the same period last year. In off-peak months, prices usually begin around Dh650.
The sharp rise follows reports that Air India Express — the low-cost arm of Air India — was planning to cut several services to Kerala between October 2025 and March 2026 as part of its winter schedule. The news triggered outrage among the Indian community in the Gulf, leading politicians and expatriate associations to urge the airline to reconsider.
According to Indian media reports, Air India officials assured Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a meeting on October 6 that the flight cuts were temporary and would be reversed during the same season. However, details about the reinstatement — including exact dates and flight routes — are still awaited.
The airline has also announced plans to expand operations by 2026, with 231 international and 245 domestic flights from Kerala, a move intended to balance the current shortfall.
The fare hike is proving especially tough for low-income migrant workers and families. Nissar Thalangara, president of the Indian Association Sharjah, in a news report quoted as saying, his organisation had written to India’s prime minister urging intervention. “Air India Express’ move risks dismantling a critical lifeline for thousands of low- and middle-income workers, students and families who depend on affordable air connectivity between Kerala and the Gulf,” he reportedly said.
Thalangara added that while the promise of reinstating flights was welcome, a long-term and more reliable solution was needed to prevent such disruptions in the future.
