In welcome news for the coastal diaspora, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has announced that direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat will restart in March.

The development comes after Kota Shrinivas Poojary, Member of Parliament from Udupi–Chikkamagaluru, formally urged the Centre to intervene. In his representation to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the MP highlighted the hardships faced by passengers following the suspension of the direct route, which had long served as a vital air link for the region.

In his response, the Union Minister said discussions were held with Air India, which has now agreed to resume operations on the Mangaluru–Muscat sector from next month.

The reinstated service is expected to ease travel for thousands of people from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and surrounding districts who live in Oman for work, business and education. In the absence of a direct connection, many passengers were forced to rely on connecting flights, resulting in longer travel times and higher fares.

The announcement has been warmly received by expatriates and frequent flyers alike, with many describing it as a much-needed step to strengthen air connectivity between the coastal belt and the Gulf.