Mangaluru: Mangaluru International Airport on Monday marked another milestone in its international connectivity with the commencement of Air India Express’ direct service to Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, a new international destination from the coastal city.
The airline launched the service on the second day of the Winter Schedule 2026, making Ras Al Khaimah, a thriving industrial port city there, the newest sector in Mangaluru’s growing international network.
The inaugural outbound flight IX 871 departed for Ras Al Khaimah with 146 passengers, reflecting encouraging demand for the newly introduced service to the Gulf region. The incoming flight IX 872 to Mangaluru arrived with 36 passengers.
Out of the 58 international weekly flights scheduled from Mangaluru Airport in the Winter Schedule, 38 flights operate to Dubai (20), Abu Dhabi (16) and Ras Al Khaimah (2) which form part of the UAE, and rest to other major destinations in the Middle East.
Air India Express will operate on this sector every Monday and Saturday with IX 871 scheduled to depart from Mangaluru at 9.30am and IX 872 scheduled to arrive from Ras Al Khaimah at
6.25pm. Proximity to Sharjah and Dubai, approximately an hour’s drive from Ras Al Khaimah makes this service attractive to expatriates traveling to the UAE.
The addition of Ras Al Khaimah further strengthens Mangaluru International Airport’s connectivity to the Gulf region, a key market for travellers from coastal Karnataka and neighbouring districts. Under the Winter Schedule 2026, Mangaluru now offers connectivity to nine international destinations and six domestic sectors, providing passengers with greater travel choices and seamless access to important business, leisure and visiting friends and relatives’ markets.
The launch of the Ras Al Khaimah service underscores the continued confidence of airline partners in the Mangaluru market and reinforces the airport’s role as a vital gateway linking the region with the Middle East. The new route is expected to benefit both migrant
communities and leisure travellers while further expanding international travel options from coastal Karnataka.
ENDS
For Media Queries: Jaideep Shenoy, Corporate Communications, Mangaluru International Airport Tel: +91 93435 61427, email: [email protected]
About Mangaluru International Airport Limited (MgIAL)
Mangaluru International Airport Limited (MgIAL) is a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), the flagship of the globally diversified Adani Group, and the largest private operator of eight functional airports in India through Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL). AAHL holds a 49 per cent stake, while AEL, the parent company, holds the majority 51 per cent stake in MgIAL. MgIAL operates and is modernising Mangaluru International Airport (IXE), a major aviation hub in Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
Mangaluru International Airport, Mangaluru (IATA: IXE ICAO: VOML)
Mangaluru International Airport, with a rich history of 75 years, is spread over 583.77 acres and holds the distinction of being Karnataka’s second busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, having managed 2.54 million passengers in FY 2025–26. The airport, which is the first in Karnataka to have two runways, including one made of rigid pavement and overlaid with asphalt, currently caters to over 40 air traffic movements (ATMs) every day.
With a digital first approach, the airport delivers a smooth experience for passengers through advanced technology and efficient operations. As an emerging cargo hub, IXE manages air cargo of over 5,600 metric tonnes per annum.
In July 2026, Airports Council International (ACI) awarded IXE Level 5 accreditation for customer experience, making it one among four Airports in India to receive this prestigious global accreditation. This recognises the airport’s advanced practices in service design and innovation, governance, and customer understanding. The Confederation of Indian Industry too issued Mangaluru Airport with the prestigious Zero Waste to Landfill certification. The Airport in June 2026 commissioned India’s first and Asia’s second Precision Approach Lighting Category 1 system, mounted on specially engineered towers.
