Surat: Surat International Airport currently has no direct international flights after Air India Express abruptly discontinued its Surat–Bangkok service from May 1, dealing a fresh blow to the city’s global connectivity ambitions.

The airline had initially planned to suspend the service from July 1, 2026, but the early withdrawal has resulted in a complete halt of international operations from the airport in the ongoing summer schedule.

The decision comes despite strong passenger demand on the route. According to airport data, over 7,000 passengers travelled on the Surat–Bangkok sector in March 2026, reflecting an average load factor of around 85%. However, the airline cited the route as “unprofitable” while discontinuing the service.

The Surat–Bangkok flight operated four times a week—on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays—departing Surat at 10:50 am and arriving in Bangkok at 5:10 pm.

Industry stakeholders said this is not an isolated case, noting that several international routes from Surat have been suspended in recent years. Air India Express had launched flights to Sharjah in February 2019, which were discontinued in March 2026 due to low revenue. Similarly, services to Dubai by Air India Express and IndiGo, launched in December 2023 and February 2024 respectively, were also suspended shortly after, reportedly due to geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region.

Sanjay Jain, a member of the WWWAS (We Work for Working Airport at Surat) group, said that despite Surat being granted international airport status, flights to key destinations such as Dubai, Bangkok, and Sharjah are currently not operational, with airlines citing financial losses.

Airport Director Anand Sharma said flight operations from Surat continue to record high passenger occupancy, often nearing full capacity. He added that decisions on starting or suspending routes rest entirely with airline companies, and the airport is equipped to provide all necessary support.

At present, only domestic services are operational from Surat Airport, with around 22 flights connecting cities such as Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Goa, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai, along with regional destinations like Jamnagar and Bhuj. DeshGujarat