Bengaluru third highest in arrivals using e-tourist visas

October 11, 2015

Bengaluru, Oct 11: Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) stood third in India as far as tourist arrivals on e-tourist visa is concerned, accounting for 7.44 per cent of the overall arrivals in September this year.

Over two lakh tourists arrived on e-tourist visa from January to September this year. During September, a total of 31,729 tourists arrived on e-tourist visa, a release said.

The scheme was launched last November. As many as 113 countries are covered, with the Centre extending the facility to 36 more countries from August 15, 2015. Seven more Indian airports were added as designated airports for entry on e-tourist visa. They are Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy and Varanasi.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi accounted for a little over half of the total e-tourist visa arrivals in September followed by Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai with 20.70 per cent. The share of Chennai International Airport was 7.18 per cent.

Among the top 10 source countries availing the facility during September were the USA (18.71 per cent), UK (9.24 per cent) and Australia (8.50 per cent).

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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