For generations, Gulf Air has been more than an airline for the people of Kerala’s Malabar region in southern India – it has been a lifeline to opportunity. For the city of Calicut, the gateway for Kerala’s earliest wave of migrants to the Gulf, Gulf Air symbolised a path to prosperity. As the oil boom in the Middle East created new opportunities, the airline connected Calicut to Bahrain, carrying the aspirations of countless families. Now, this crucial link is set to end. Gulf Air will stop flights to Kozhikode by March 28th and scale back Kochi services to three weekly flights from April 6th, marking a significant shift in one of the Gulf’s most established migration routes. Perplexing Decision Gulf Air’s decision has raised questions about compliance with the Air Services Agreement (ASA) between Bahrain and India. The ASA requires fair and equal opportunities for designated airlines and mandates that capacity changes align with demand, which remains strong with over 90% occupancy on the Calicut route. If Gulf Air’s decision was unilateral, it could prompt a review under the agreement’s dispute resolution mechanisms. A senior Gulf Air official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged the confusion surrounding the decision. “There’s no formal communication […]