AirAsia has withdrawn its international service between Sri Vijaya Puram—formerly known as Port Blair—and Kuala Lumpur, ending the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ only direct air link to a foreign destination. The airline’s final flight on the route, AK-54, departed Veer Savarkar International Airport on April 10th, drawing a quiet close to what had been a historic but brief chapter in the Islands’ aviation history.
The route had launched with considerable fanfare less than five months earlier. On November 16th, 2024, AirAsia flight AK-55 touched down in Sri Vijaya Puram from Malaysia, becoming the first-ever international commercial service to the Union Territory. It was hailed as a major step forward for tourism, trade, and regional connectivity, with stakeholders touting the route’s potential to place the Islands firmly on the Southeast Asian travel map.
A Missed Opportunity
Its sudden suspension has sparked disappointment among local tourism operators and the business community, who say the closure represents a significant setback. With no other international services currently operating, the airport’s upgraded international facilities now serve only domestic flights. There has been no public explanation from AirAsia, nor any statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation or the local administration regarding efforts to retain the service or negotiate an alternative.
Tourism agencies say the exit has undercut substantial marketing investments made in anticipation of growing traffic between Malaysia and the Islands. Brochures were printed, campaigns were launched, and joint promotions were planned. Those efforts are now on hold indefinitely.
Industry figures argue that the route’s challenges might have been addressed through adjustments, such as reduced frequency, seasonal scheduling, or integrating cargo operations to improve viability. The absence of any such intervention has raised broader questions about the sustainability of international connectivity projects in the region.
From Global Promise to Local Silence
Veer Savarkar International Airport, which had briefly achieved what no airport in the archipelago had done before—host regular overseas flights—is now once again without a single international route. The move is also seen as a blow to the wider ambition of positioning the Andamans as a strategic and economic hub in the Indo-Pacific.
There is currently no indication that the route will be reinstated or that other carriers are being courted to fill the gap. Local stakeholders have urged both the Union Government and the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to take a more proactive role in engaging with airlines and promoting the Islands as a viable international destination.
For many in the Islands, the Kuala Lumpur flight had become more than a travel option—it was a symbol of belonging to a larger world. Its disappearance has left behind unfulfilled potential and renewed doubts about the region’s place in India’s connectivity ambitions.
