Gulf Air Cuts Kerala Ties: Calicut Route Axed, Kochi Flights Reduced

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

For generations, Gulf Air has been more than an airline for the people of Kerala’s Malabar region in southern India - it has been a lifeline to opportunity. For the city of Calicut, the gateway for Kerala’s earliest wave of migrants to the Gulf, Gulf Air symbolised a path to prosperity. As the oil boom in the Middle East created new opportunities, the airline connected Calicut to Bahrain, carrying the aspirations of countless families. Now, this crucial link is set to end.

Gulf Air will stop flights to Kozhikode by March 28th and scale back Kochi services to three weekly flights from April 6th, marking a significant shift in one of the Gulf’s most established migration routes.

Perplexing Decision

Gulf Air’s decision has raised questions about compliance with the Air Services Agreement (ASA) between Bahrain and India. The ASA requires fair and equal opportunities for designated airlines and mandates that capacity changes align with demand, which remains strong with over 90% occupancy on the Calicut route. If Gulf Air’s decision was unilateral, it could prompt a review under the agreement’s dispute resolution mechanisms.

A senior Gulf Air official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged the confusion surrounding the decision. “There’s no formal communication yet, but bookings for April and May are unavailable. The route had a 93-94% occupancy in 2024, so this isn’t a passenger issue. It’s shocking, even from a trade perspective,” the official said.

Hunt for Transit Passengers

While the decision to cut services to Calicut and Kochi has been attributed to be part of a strategy to get more transit passengers, the senior Gulf Air official said it defies logic.

“Transit passengers form 70-75% of the traffic between Calicut and Bahrain, mostly connecting to the Middle East. Bahrain is unlikely to see a significant increase in tourists from the destinations where connectivity is being expanded, as there isn’t substantial passenger traffic to Bahrain from those areas. Goa, being a seasonal route, might witness a rise in tourist numbers due to enhanced links with Europe. Bengaluru, as a technology hub, may generate higher passenger volumes, but these connections are more likely to originate from beyond Bahrain rather than directly from Bahrain,” the official explained.

Changing Passenger Dynamics

Commenting on the current passenger dynamics and Gulf Air’s operational decisions, the official stated, “On Wednesday’s flight from Calicut, 120 of 136 seats were booked, but only 20 passengers were bound for Bahrain. Most were connecting to destinations like Saudi Arabia, Doha, Medina, the UK, or Europe. Saudi Arabia remains the top destination from Calicut, followed by Dubai, Doha, and Bahrain. Recently, passengers to the UK have increased due to students and tourism. Gulf Air’s hub-and-spoke model connects passengers through Bahrain to other destinations. Discontinuing Calicut services doesn’t seem viable from a revenue perspective, but I don’t understand the management’s decision and have no explanation for the route’s suspension.”

Lessons from a Pandemic

Reflecting on Gulf Air’s operations during the COVID-19 restrictions, the official shared, “During the pandemic, flights to Calicut operated consistently for two years, even as only a few sectors were functional with repatriation services. Goa was not among these routes. At the time, Kochi and Calicut ranked first and second in terms of passenger numbers. Under the rules set by the Indian government, only passengers from Bahrain were allowed to travel, and connecting passengers were prohibited. Despite these limitations, all flights were fully booked. This demonstrated that Bahrain had a robust passenger base, with significant potential to tap into that market. Frankly, I am unsure what metrics or strategy the management is considering to justify such a decision now.”

However, the rationale for stopping Kozhikode flights remains unclear. “From a revenue perspective, this decision doesn’t make sense,” the official concluded.

Online Protest

The decision to end Calicut services has drawn strong reactions on the Internet, with a user named @KeralaConnect remarking, “This is disappointing. Gulf Air offered direct flights to Bahrain, and now we’ll face increased travel time and costs.” Another user, @AviationBuzz, urged the airline to reconsider, saying, “This will leave many without convenient travel options.” Concerns over Kochi services have also surfaced. User @NomadInTransit noted, “Reduced flights to Kochi will affect availability and increase prices.” Frequent traveller @ GlobalNomad added, “Fewer options will make travel harder for regular flyers.”