Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has marked 20 years of operations in Thiruvananthapuram, reaffirming its commitment to Kerala’s travel, trade and tourism ecosystem. The airline commenced its services to the city on 1 February 2006, making Thiruvananthapuram a key gateway in its South India network.

Since the launch of operations, Emirates has carried more than 4.6 million passengers on over 19,000 flights between Dubai and Thiruvananthapuram, strengthening international connectivity for travellers, businesses and the region’s large visiting friends and relatives segment.

Currently, Emirates operates 167 weekly flights from nine gateways across India, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. These services connect Indian cities to Dubai and onwards to more than 150 destinations across six continents.

The milestone was commemorated in the presence of the Honorable Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, underlining the strong partnership between Emirates, the Kerala government and key aviation stakeholders.

Commenting on the milestone, Mohammad Sarhan, Emirates’ VP – India and Nepal, said, “We are proud to have served Thiruvananthapuram for over 20 years. The city has been instrumental in strengthening our presence in Kerala and Southern India. Over the past two decades, our operations have supported the growth of local tourism and trade, while connecting travellers from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai and beyond on our global network.”

He further added, “On this occasion, we are pleased to be joined by the Honorable Chief Minister of Kerala to mark the milestone, and I would like to thank the state authorities, airport partners, and the Emirates team for their continued support in making our operations a success over the span of two decades. We look forward to continued partnership and providing our services to the people of Thiruvananthapuram and visitors and supporting local businesses and trade with our cargo operations.”

Over the years, Emirates has played a key role in enhancing Thiruvananthapuram’s global reach, offering seamless connections to major international destinations including London, New York, Manama, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Manchester, Chicago, Toronto, Seattle and Houston. The airline has also supported inbound tourism to Kerala by enabling smoother access for international travellers.

On the cargo front, Emirates SkyCargo has significantly contributed to Kerala’s export-driven economy. Since 2019, the cargo division has uplifted over 34,000 tonnes of cargo from Thiruvananthapuram, including seafood, vegetables and other perishable goods, enabling local exporters to access global markets efficiently.

Emirates continues to offer its Fly Better experience across all cabins for travellers from Thiruvananthapuram, combining comfort, regional cuisine options, award-winning service and its inflight entertainment system with content in regional languages.

As Emirates celebrates two decades of service to Thiruvananthapuram, the airline reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting tourism, trade and economic growth in Kerala.