Thiruvananthapuram airport will handle 644 weekly aircraft movements under its winter schedule, up from 620 in the current summer schedule, with a new Riyadh connection and higher frequencies to key domestic and international destinations.
The winter schedule, which will remain in force until March, includes 328 weekly domestic movements, a 12% increase from 294. International operations will account for 316 weekly movements, according to a press release issued by the airport.
The revised schedule strengthens connections between Kerala’s capital and major Indian cities. Bengaluru will have the highest number of domestic movements at 96 per week, followed by Delhi with 68, Mumbai with 56, Chennai with 44 and Hyderabad with 28. Kochi and Navi Mumbai will each have 14 weekly movements, while Kannur will have eight.
The increased domestic frequency gives Thiruvananthapuram more scheduled links with major employment, business and education centres. The airport’s published figures, however, count arrivals and departures together as aircraft movements rather than individual passenger flights or seats.
Internationally, Abu Dhabi will have the highest frequency at 68 weekly movements, followed by Sharjah at 56. Malé will have 24, while Dubai and Kuala Lumpur will each have 22. Muscat, Kuwait and Doha will each account for 20 weekly movements.
The winter schedule will also include 18 weekly movements to Bahrain, 14 each to Singapore and Dammam, eight to Colombo, six to Riyadh and four to Hanimaadhoo. Riyadh is the new destination identified in the schedule, while Bahrain and Kuwait are among the routes receiving enhanced frequency.
The changes place Gulf connectivity at the centre of the airport’s international operations. The destinations listed in the schedule include several important links for Kerala’s international travel market, while the domestic additions and increases connect the capital more frequently with other major urban centres.
For passengers, the immediate change will be a larger number of scheduled movement opportunities during the winter period. The actual benefit for travellers will depend on the timing of individual services, available seats and fare levels, details that were not provided in the airport’s statement.
An airport spokesperson said the winter schedule reflected Thiruvananthapuram airport’s growing importance as a gateway to Kerala and other destinations. “With enhanced connectivity and new routes, we continue to support regional mobility and economic growth,” the spokesperson said.
The schedule will operate until March. The airport’s next operational milestone is the implementation of the revised winter timetable, including the Riyadh service and the increased frequencies on domestic and international routes.
