Passengers on board the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah-Mangaluru flight operated by Air India Express deboarding at Mangaluru International Airport on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Mangaluru International Airport on Monday marked another milestone in its international connectivity with the commencement of the Air India Express direct service to Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E.The airline launched the service on the second day of the Winter Schedule 2026, making Ras Al Khaimah the newest sector in Mangaluru’s growing international network.The inaugural outbound flight IX 871 departed for Ras Al Khaimah with 146 passengers. The incoming flight IX 872 to Mangaluru arrived with 36 passengers.Out of the 58 international weekly flights scheduled from Mangaluru airport in the Winter Schedule, 38 flights operate to Dubai (20), Abu Dhabi (16), and Ras Al Khaimah (2), which form part of the UAE, and rest to other major destinations in the West Asia.Air India Express will operate on this sector every Monday and Saturday with IX 871 scheduled to depart from Mangaluru at 9.30 a.m. and IX 872 scheduled to arrive from Ras Al Khaimah at 6.25 p.m.
Proximity to Sharjah and Dubai, approximately an hour’s drive from Ras Al Khaimah, makes this service attractive to expatriates traveling to the UAE, a release said.The new route is expected to benefit both migrant communities and leisure travellers, while further expanding international travel options from coastal Karnataka, the release said.