Mangaluru: Thousands of expatriates from coastal Karnataka working in Gulf countries are facing mounting hardship following the suspension of direct flight services between Mangaluru and key destinations such as Kuwait and Bahrain.

With the direct air links temporarily unavailable, travellers are now forced to depend on connecting routes through Bengaluru, Mumbai, Goa and airports in Kerala, significantly increasing both travel time and expenses.

For many expatriates rushing home for medical emergencies, family matters or urgent personal commitments, the disruption has turned travel into a stressful and financially draining ordeal.

Passengers say journeys that once took a few hours are now stretching beyond eight hours due to layovers and road travel from alternate airports to their hometowns in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

The crisis has hit middle-class Gulf workers particularly hard. Airfares that earlier hovered around Rs 20,000 for one-way travel have now skyrocketed several times over, with ticket prices varying sharply depending on availability and transit routes.

Riyaz Fernandes, an expatriate based in Bahrain, said the Mangaluru-Bahrain sector earlier operated multiple weekly services, making travel convenient for coastal Karnataka residents.

“Now there are no direct flights at all. We are forced to travel through Bengaluru or Mumbai and then continue the journey home by road. The total expense has become unbearable for many families,” he said.

According to him, even tickets on connecting routes are expensive, while additional costs for domestic travel inside India are placing further burden on workers already under financial pressure.

A similar situation has emerged for passengers travelling from Kuwait.

Harish Bhat, who works in Kuwait, said ticket prices on available routes have surged drastically due to the absence of direct services.

“Many workers cannot afford these fares unless there is a serious emergency. Some people are postponing travel plans indefinitely because the costs are simply beyond reach,” he said.

Another expatriate from Kuwait said several workers currently on leave in Karnataka are under pressure from employers to return immediately or risk losing their jobs. Others nearing visa or residency expiry are also being forced to undertake expensive journeys despite financial difficulties.

Expats and community organisations have urged airlines and authorities to restore at least limited direct connectivity between Mangaluru and Gulf destinations, saying even a few weekly services would provide major relief to thousands of families dependent on Gulf employment.

Travel Burden on Gulf Expats

Earlier

• Direct flights available on Kuwait and Bahrain sectors

• Average one-way airfare: Around Rs 20,000

Current Situation

• No direct flights from Mangaluru to Kuwait or Bahrain

• Bahrain routes costing Rs 25,000 and above

• Kuwait routes touching Rs 75,000 and higher

• Passengers forced to transit via Bengaluru, Mumbai, Goa or Kerala

Impact

• Travel costs up by three to four times

• Journey duration exceeding eight hours

• Emergency travel becoming unaffordable for many workers