Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Air India Express has discontinued its recently launched direct flights from Manohar International Airport (Mopa) to Kuwait City and Abu Dhabi, leaving hundreds of Gulf-bound Goans in the lurch. The non-stop service to Kuwait, introduced on May 3, and the Abu Dhabi route, launched on May 5, have both been quietly suspended, with no formal announcement yet from the airline.
The sudden halt has sparked concern among the state’s large expatriate population in the Gulf, particularly in Kuwait, where many Goans are employed. The issue was flagged in the Goa Legislative Assembly by Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenço, who said the move had created panic among families relying on the affordable and direct flights to stay connected with loved ones working overseas. He urged the government to step in and request the Centre to reinstate at least one weekly service on the route.
The cancellations mark a setback for Goa’s international air connectivity from Mopa, which was expected to boost travel links to key Gulf destinations. Legislators have warned that the loss of such vital connections undermines the airport’s potential and affects both the Goan diaspora and the state’s tourism industry.
With mounting pressure, MLAs have called on the state government to engage with the Civil Aviation Ministry and ensure critical routes to Gulf nations like Kuwait and the UAE are restored without further delay.
