Mangaluru: Air India Express is set to enhance air connectivity from Mangaluru with the introduction of a second daily flight between Mangaluru and New Delhi starting October 27, 2025. The new service will supplement the existing Delhi flight, providing more travel flexibility for passengers flying to and from the national capital.
Winter schedule to begin from October 26
Mangaluru International Airport (IXE) is preparing for the Winter Schedule 2025, which begins on October 26, 2025, and continues until March 28, 2026. Both Air India Express and IndiGo have finalised their operational plans for the upcoming season.
According to the airport authorities, Air India Express will continue with two daily flights to Bengaluru and one daily flight to Mumbai, in addition to the expanded Delhi services.
New Mangaluru–Thiruvananthapuram route announced
In a first for the region, Air India Express has announced three weekly direct flights between Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram, effective October 27, 2025.
- Flight IX 5531 will operate from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- The return flight IX 5532 will operate from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangaluru on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
This new route will significantly improve connectivity between coastal Karnataka and Kerala’s capital city, catering to both business and leisure travellers.
IndiGo expands domestic operations
IndiGo, another key operator from Mangaluru International Airport, has also strengthened its domestic network under the Winter Schedule. The airline will operate:
- Six daily flights to Bengaluru
- Three daily flights to Mumbai
- Two daily flights to Hyderabad
- One flight each to Delhi and Chennai
For the Hyderabad and Chennai sectors, IndiGo will deploy 72-seater ATR aircraft, while Airbus A320/A321 aircraft will be used for other routes.
Expanded international operations
On the international front, Air India Express will continue to play a leading role in connecting Mangaluru with major Gulf destinations. The airline will operate:
- Two daily flights to Dubai (six days a week, and one flight every Tuesday)
- One daily flight to Abu Dhabi
- Five weekly flights to Dammam
- Three weekly flights each to Bahrain, Doha, Jeddah, and Kuwait
The airline has increased its frequencies to Dammam and Doha by one flight each, and added two additional weekly flights to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jeddah. These enhanced operations will be served by Boeing 737-8 and 737-800NG aircraft.
Meanwhile, IndiGo will operate one daily flight to Abu Dhabi and four weekly flights to Dubai using its Airbus fleet, maintaining steady international connectivity for passengers from Mangaluru.
Boost to connectivity and passenger convenience
The addition of a second daily flight to New Delhi and the introduction of a new Thiruvananthapuram route mark a significant milestone in improving air travel options from Mangaluru. The increased frequencies to key domestic and international destinations are expected to boost tourism, trade, and passenger convenience ahead of the busy travel season.
Officials from the Mangaluru International Airport stated that these developments are part of ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity and attract more airlines to the coastal city, positioning it as a growing aviation hub for southern India.