Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru / Bengaluru
Mangaluru / Bengaluru, Apr 1: Mangaluru International Airport has been severely affected by the ongoing West Asia war, with 444 flights cancelled since February 28. The disruption comes as the conflict, sparked by joint US-Israel strikes on Iran, continues to impact air travel across the region.
Mangaluru International Airport operates around 32 to 43 flights daily, including domestic and international services. Prior to the crisis, it ran about 44 international flights per week, primarily to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with regular services to Bahrain, Dammam, Muscat, Doha, Jeddah, and Kuwait.
IndiGo flights accounted for 49 arrivals and 51 departures, totalling 100 international cancellations. Air India Express reported 170 arrivals and 174 departures cancelled, amounting to 344 flights. Currently, only flights to Jeddah and Abu Dhabi continue to operate from Mangaluru.
The flight cancellations have triggered a ripple effect on associated sectors. According to The Indian Express, Radhakrishna Holla, president of the Karnataka State Travel Owners’ Association, said: “The transport sector is struggling. Luxury taxis and premium cab services to and from the airport are seeing reduced demand, and many companies have announced layoffs. We do not know how to navigate this unless the government comes to our rescue.”
High-end hotels in Mangaluru have also been affected. “We expected business travellers, but our premium suites are not seeing bookings like before. The impact is not limited to the Gulf but also affects European travellers, as airspace in several West Asian countries remains closed, discouraging travel,” an employee at a luxury hotel said.
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has also been hit, with 891 flights cancelled between February 28 and March 31, according to Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL). KIA handles around 600 flights daily, connecting to 34 international destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai, and Doha. Flights from Jeddah and Abu Dhabi continue to operate.
In 2025, KIA recorded passenger traffic of 43.82 million, with a daily average of 1.2 lac. International passenger traffic had grown 28.7% year-on-year, though this is expected to decline this year due to the ongoing conflict. However, BIAL said that overall footfall had not reduced significantly.
The West Asia war continues to challenge the aviation and hospitality sectors in coastal Karnataka, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of geopolitical conflicts on regional air travel and commerce.