Riyadh: Air passengers from southern Kerala are delighted that Air India Express will be operating direct flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Riyadh from September 9 onwards. Manorama Online reported that the weekly service is likely to be operated on Mondays. The AX 521 flight that departs Thiruvananthapuram at 5.
55 pm will reach Riyadh at 10.40 pm. The return flight departs at 11.
40 pm and arrives at Thiruvananthapuram at 7.30 am the next morning. Passengers have been demanding a direct flight to the Saudi Arabian capital from Thiruvananthapuram for the last five years.
Those who are returning after the school holidays and expatriates who wish to visit Kerala for Onam can reach their destinations in just five hours. The long-cherished dream of the passengers who rely on Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for flying to Riyadh has now been fulfilled. Why Saudia stopped service Fliers have been facing many difficulties at Thiruvananthapuram lately, after the users’ fee was hiked and also due to the shortage of direct flights to many destinations.
Meanwhile, Manorama Online had reported the struggles faced by the expatriates while flying to Saudi Arabia, a while ago. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who took notice of the issue, had promised to intervene in the matter and take the necessary steps to start direct flights from Thiruvananthapuram. Earlier, Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and Air India had operated direct flights to Thiruvananthapuram.
However,.