Air India Express launches direct Mangaluru–Ras Al Khaimah flights

Air India Express launches direct Mangaluru–Ras Al Khaimah flights

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, October 27, 2026: Mangaluru International Airport has added Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to its international network with the launch of a direct Air India Express service on Monday.

The inaugural outbound flight, IX 871, departed from Mangaluru for Ras Al Khaimah with 146 passengers on board. The incoming flight, IX 872, arrived in Mangaluru with 36 passengers.

The service was launched on the second day of the Winter Schedule 2026, expanding air connectivity between coastal Karnataka and the Gulf region, which is a major travel market for the region’s expatriate community.

Air India Express will operate the service twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays. Flight IX 871 is scheduled to depart from Mangaluru at 9.30 am, while flight IX 872 will arrive from Ras Al Khaimah at 6.25 pm.

Ras Al Khaimah’s proximity to Sharjah and Dubai, both accessible by road in approximately an hour, is expected to make the new service convenient for passengers travelling to different parts of the UAE.

Of the 58 international flights scheduled weekly from Mangaluru International Airport during the winter season, 38 connect the city to the UAE. These include 20 weekly flights to Dubai, 16 to Abu Dhabi and two to Ras Al Khaimah. The remaining international services connect Mangaluru with other destinations in the Middle East.

With the addition of Ras Al Khaimah, Mangaluru International Airport now offers connectivity to nine international destinations and six domestic sectors under the Winter Schedule 2026.

The new route is expected to benefit expatriates, business travellers and tourists, while providing more travel options for people from coastal Karnataka and neighbouring districts. It also strengthens Mangaluru’s role as an important gateway connecting the region with the Middle East.