KOZHIKODE- Tata-owned Indian FSC, Air India (AI), will cease operations at Kozhikode Airport (CCJ) by June 15, ending its only remaining flight to Mumbai (BOM).
Following privatization, the airline had already discontinued its long-standing Sharjah (SHJ) and Dubai (DXB) routes, which had been profitable for years, citing technical reasons.
Air India Cuts Kozhikode
Although Air India Express (IX) was supposed to take over these services, this transition did not occur, leading only to a slight increase in Air India Express flights to Dubai, reported Mathrubhumi.
For some time, Air India’s operations at Kozhikode have been limited to the Mumbai route, especially after the profitable Delhi route was shut down. With Air India’s departure, IndiGo (6E) will be the only airline offering flights from Kozhikode to Mumbai. This will likely result in higher fares and limited ticket availability.
The withdrawal of Air India also poses a significant challenge for travelers to Europe, as it increases both travel costs and time due to reduced connectivity.
Meanwhile, Saudi Airlines (SV) is resuming operations at CCJ with narrow-body planes, which can accommodate 150-200 passengers. Previously, Saudi Airlines operated wide-body aircraft on this route.
Despite conducting studies and submitting a report to the DGCA to reinstate wide-body services, approval has not been granted. As a result, the airline is restarting services using narrow-body aircraft.
Saudi Restarts New Flights to Kozhikode
Saudi Airlines, which ceased operations in Kozhikode also known as Calicut in 2015, is making a return with services starting on October 27. There will be seven flights per week, covering the Kozhikode-Jeddah and Kozhikode-Riyadh routes.
The schedule includes four weekly flights to Jeddah (JED) and three weekly flights to Riyadh (RUH), with plans to increase the number of services to 11 by the end of November.
A large Code E aircraft will be used for these services, featuring 36 business class seats and 298 economy seats.
Currently, Saudi Airlines operates flights to Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Lucknow.
In 2015, Saudi Airlines left Kozhikode due to restrictions on large aircraft during runway renovations. Following a plane crash in 2020, a ban on large aircraft was enforced.
Despite implementing all recommended safety measures from the commission investigating the accident, the ban on large aircraft at Kozhikode continued.
With Saudi Airlines returning, Emirates (EK) and Oman Air (WY), which also left Kozhikode for similar reasons, are considering resuming their services as well.
This decision opens the door for more airlines to start operations in Kozhikode.
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