Mangaluru-Ras Al Khaimah direct flights begin, twice a week on Air India Express

Air India Express has started direct flights between Mangaluru International Airport in coastal Karnataka and Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, with the first service operating on Monday, October 26, 2026, the second day of the airlines' winter schedule. The route runs twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays. Flight IX 871 leaves Mangaluru at 9:30 am, and the return flight, IX 872, arrives back in Mangaluru at 6:25 pm. The inaugural outbound flight carried 146 passengers and the return carried 36. With the new link, Mangaluru now has nine international destinations.

Coastal Karnataka has deep ties with the Gulf. Many families in the region have members working in the UAE and other Gulf countries, and Gulf cities make up much of the airport's international network. Until now, travellers heading to Ras Al Khaimah usually flew into Dubai or Sharjah and then travelled by road. A direct flight saves time and road travel for people who live and work in the northern emirates.

Ras Al Khaimah is one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE. For workers based there, a direct flight to their home region makes trips for festivals, family events and emergencies simpler. For tourists from Karnataka, it offers a different entry point to the UAE.

The new route is part of the winter schedule, which began a day before the first flight. Winter schedules often bring new routes and frequency changes, and smaller airports like Mangaluru compete hard for international links. The fact that the airport now counts nine international destinations shows how important Gulf traffic is to its business.

The inaugural numbers also tell a story. The outbound flight was close to full, while the return was much lighter. That pattern is common at the start of a new route: people from the region fly out to jobs in the Gulf, while demand in the other direction often builds over time, especially before holidays.

The launch also comes as Air India Express reshapes its Gulf network. Reports say the airline plans to move its Sharjah and other Gulf services from Mumbai to the new Navi Mumbai airport by summer 2027, which may change connections for travellers from western India.

Short-term: Travellers from Mangaluru and nearby districts can fly straight to Ras Al Khaimah twice a week, avoiding a road transfer from Dubai or Sharjah. Passengers should check fares and timings with the airline, since schedules can change.

Long-term: If demand holds, the airline could add more weekly flights, and the route may help tourism and business between coastal Karnataka and the northern emirates. It also strengthens Mangaluru's position as a regional international airport.

Who is affected: Workers from coastal Karnataka and northern Kerala living in the UAE and their families, tourists, small traders, and Mangaluru International Airport.

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