Air India Express (AIE) has postponed its much-anticipated direct flight service between Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) and Singapore due to insufficient bookings. Passengers with reservations for the inaugural flight on January 21, 2025, and subsequent flights were notified via email about the cancellation. AIE assured alternative travel arrangements, including connecting flight options.
An AIE official cited operational issues and lower-than-expected bookings as the reasons for deferring the service. While confirming the plan has not been scrapped entirely, the official admitted there is no timeline for its commencement. “Sustaining a route requires consistent demand, not just seasonal interest,” the official explained.
The decision has left both travelers and travel agents disheartened. Rajesh H. Acharya, director of HQ Connections Pte Ltd, Singapore, and coordinator of the Singapore Tuluver community, expressed his disappointment, noting that efforts to secure this route since 2017 had finally borne fruit, only to be deferred.
Acharya took to X, criticizing AIE for not providing adequate advance notice and transparency. “If there are issues, travelers deserve to be informed before actions are taken,” he wrote, calling for a high-level investigation into the matter.
Despite the setback, AIE maintains hope for the route’s future, emphasizing its commitment to exploring viable options to meet passenger demand.
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