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Air Arabia has reinstated daily nonstop flights between Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and Kozhikode International Airport in Kerala, India, with operations set to begin on October 16, the low-cost carrier said in an announcement released October 6, 2026. The reinstatement upgrades an earlier three-weekly schedule the airline first introduced in November 2023, responding to increased passenger interest along the route that had led to a suspension and now a daily frequency. This step forms part of the airline’s efforts to expand its network from the northern emirate while capitalising on post-pandemic recovery in cross-border travel.
Adel Al Ali, group chief executive officer at Air Arabia, said in the announcement, “We are pleased to resume our direct service between Ras Al Khaimah and Kozhikode, providing our customers with a convenient daily connection between both cities. The resumption of this route reflects our commitment to offering reliable and value-driven travel options that connect communities and support growing travel demand between the two destinations.” Al Ali’s statement underscores the airline’s strategy of prioritising accessible links that serve both leisure and business travellers. The carrier simultaneously maintains nonstop flights from Ras Al Khaimah to Cairo, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar.
According to the announcement, passengers can reserve seats on the daily service by visiting the Air Arabia website, contacting the call centre or working through authorised travel agencies. Flights on the route typically operate with Airbus A320 aircraft and take approximately four hours. The development arrives as Ras Al Khaimah International Airport seeks to broaden its international reach beyond its existing destinations.
Dubai Airports figures show India retained its status as the largest country market for Dubai International Airport in 2025, accounting for 11.9 million passengers as overall traffic at the hub reached a record 95.2 million. A Tourism Economics assessment found that the broader UAE-India air corridor supported around 4 million inbound travellers to India and contributed $7.7 billion to GDP that same year. These statistics highlight the corridor’s role as one of India’s busiest international aviation links.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation data placed passenger traffic from the United Arab Emirates to India at 2.3 million in the June 2026 quarter, part of a wider rebound that saw India’s total international passenger volumes hit 78 million for 2025. Industry projections indicate potential demand along the UAE-India route could approach 25 million passengers annually by 2035, although capacity shortfalls may persist without expanded services. The daily Ras Al Khaimah-Kozhikode flights are expected to help address a portion of that requirement.
The airline first commenced the route in November 2023 with three flights per week before adjusting its schedule, according to its prior statements. Air Arabia operates as the largest low-cost carrier across the Middle East and North Africa, with Ras Al Khaimah serving as one of its key bases alongside Sharjah. The resumption aligns with sustained demand from the large Indian expatriate community in the UAE and growing tourism ties between the regions.
