Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Oct 13: Public demand is intensifying for the reinstatement of the Mangaluru–Muscat direct flight service, which was suspended by Air India Express (AIE) around three months ago. Calls from elected representatives and expatriate groups are growing louder, urging the Union government to intervene and restore the vital air link.

Udupi–Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has formally appealed to Union civil aviation minister K Ram Mohan Naidu to take immediate action to resume the service. His request follows a similar appeal made earlier by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta. Additionally, members of the expatriate community from coastal Karnataka residing in Oman have strongly backed the demand.

The now-defunct route was operated by AIE with four weekly flights, and was suspended in mid-July.

In a letter dated October 8, addressed to the minister, Poojary said he had received a memorandum from the Karnataka Janapada Parishath, Muscat – Oman chapter, expressing serious concern over the suspension. The disruption, he noted, has caused considerable inconvenience to passengers—particularly senior citizens, students, and working professionals from Mangaluru, Udupi, Kasaragod, and nearby regions.

“This route has been a vital link connecting a large section of the Indian community living in Oman to their native. Its discontinuation has led to longer travel routes via Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Kannur, resulting in increased costs and travel hardships,” Poojary wrote.

“In view of the difficulties faced by the public, I kindly request your good office to examine the feasibility of reinstating the Muscat–Mangaluru direct flight service, even with limited weekly operations initially,” the MP urged.

Capt Brijesh Chowta had raised the issue in an earlier letter dated September 18, where he also pressed the ministry for immediate corrective action.

“Close to 50,000 expatriates from the coastal Karnataka region work in Oman, engaged in both skilled and unskilled jobs. The Mangaluru–Muscat route has served as a vital and uninterrupted lifeline, enabling them to travel directly to their homeland without the additional financial and physical burden of transiting through Bengaluru, Kannur, or Mumbai airports,” Capt Chowta stated.

He stressed that the sudden suspension of the service—without consultation or adequate explanation—has had a direct emotional and economic impact on the community.

“Its abrupt suspension, without prior consultation or proper explanation, has left many families in distress,” he added.

“Given the seriousness of this issue, I sincerely request you to provide necessary directions to the respective Ministry officials and Air India Express management to reconsider and revoke the suspension of the Mangaluru–Muscat flights,” Capt. Chowta wrote in his appeal.

Meanwhile, the expatriate Kannadiga community in Oman continues to express concern, highlighting that the route had become a crucial cultural and logistical link between the Gulf nation and Coastal Karnataka.

As of now, Air India Express has not released any official statement regarding the resumption of the service.