Bahrain: Kerala expats demands rise for direct Gulf Air services via Dammam
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Malayali expatriates in Bahrain are urging the restoration of direct air links to Kerala, saying current travel arrangements are costly and limited amid ongoing regional disruptions.
After Bahrain closed its airspace on February 28 due to rising tensions, thousands of passengers saw their travel plans cancelled. Gulf Air later resumed operations through Dammam, initially operating services to Mumbai and subsequently to Chennai. However, routes to Kerala, which account for a significant share of passenger traffic, have not resumed.
In response, community groups organised chartered flights to Indian destinations. The first charter to Kochi departed on March 15, carrying patients, students and visitors whose visas were expiring.
Passengers say fares have risen sharply. While tickets previously ranged between 60 and 100 Bahraini dinars, travellers to Mumbai now pay about 250 dinars including ground transfers and transit visas. Seats on chartered flights to Kerala are reported to exceed 300 dinars, with some paying up to 350 dinars.
Expatriates are calling on Gulf Air to operate direct services to Kochi and other Kerala cities via Dammam, similar to the Chennai arrangement. Some community representatives argue that reliance on charter flights discourages airlines from resuming regular schedules, as charter operations involve upfront bulk payments.
Social workers and travel agents have raised concerns over the financial strain on workers planning annual leave. Malayali associations have submitted formal requests to Gulf Air seeking the commencement of direct services to Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi. The expatriate community also urges authority intervention to end the charter trap and restore affordable travel options.
