Mangaluru: Travel between Kerala and Karnataka’s coastal capitals is set to become easier as Air India Express has announced a new route connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru starting October 27, under the airline’s winter schedule that takes effect from October 26.
Thrice-a-week flights proposed
According to airline sources, the carrier plans to operate three flights a week between the two cities.
Flight IX 5531 will depart from Mangaluru International Airport at 9.15 a.m. and reach Thiruvananthapuram International Airport at 10.35 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The return flight, IX 5532, will take off from Thiruvananthapuram at 4.25 a.m. and arrive in Mangaluru at 5.45 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The new schedule was displayed on the Air India Express website on October 18, confirming the proposed operations.
Airport announcement on social media
Promoting the upcoming service, Mangaluru International Airport posted a teaser on X (formerly Twitter):
“A new route is ready to take flight from Mangaluru Airport. From one coastline to another, where nature, culture and calm come together. Can you guess the destination?”
The post generated buzz among frequent flyers, particularly those travelling between coastal Karnataka and southern Kerala for work, study, or tourism.
Existing connectivity between the two cities
Currently, the fastest public transport option between Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram is the Vande Bharat Express, which covers the 620-km journey in about 8 hours and 40 minutes.
The Vande Bharat Train No. 20631 departs Mangaluru Central at 6.25 a.m. and reaches Thiruvananthapuram Central at 3.05 p.m. The return service, Train No. 20632, leaves Thiruvananthapuram at 4.05 p.m. and arrives in Mangaluru at 12.40 a.m. (past midnight).
These services operate on all days except Wednesdays, offering a significant improvement over traditional superfast trains, which take at least 13 hours to complete the same journey.
Expanding Mangaluru’s air network
With this addition, Mangaluru International Airport will have direct flight connectivity to six major Indian cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and now Thiruvananthapuram.
The new coastal route is expected to attract both leisure and business travellers, offering a quicker alternative to long road and rail journeys. Aviation observers say the connection could also boost tourism between the Malabar and Konkan regions.