18 flights to Riyadh and Jeddah cancelled in two days as Houthi-linked disruption hits Kerala’s export trade

Kozhikode: Flight disruptions between Kerala’s Karipur airport and Saudi Arabia have brought more than 30 tonnes of daily fruit and vegetable exports to a halt. Eighteen flights connecting Kozhikode with Riyadh and Jeddah were cancelled on Sunday and Monday, leaving exporters uncertain about when shipments can resume.

Flight disruptions between Karipur airport in Kerala and Saudi Arabia have affected the region’s fruit and vegetable export trade following attacks by Houthi rebels and the reported disruption at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

More than 30 tonnes of fruits and vegetables were being exported from Karipur to Saudi Arabia each day. With flight services suspended or cancelled, these shipments have also stopped, affecting traders who depend on air cargo to transport perishable produce.

According to the report, 18 flights connecting Karipur with Riyadh and Jeddah were cancelled on Sunday and Monday. The affected services included flights operated by Air India Express, Saudi Airlines, Flynas and Akasa Air.

Which flights were cancelled?

Flight cancellations affected both arrivals and departures at Karipur.

On Sunday, two Air India Express services scheduled to arrive from Riyadh were cancelled, along with one service each operated by Saudi Airlines and Flynas from Riyadh and an Akasa Air service from Jeddah.

Departures from Karipur were also affected. Two Flynas services to Riyadh, services operated by Saudi Airlines and Air India Express, and an Akasa Air service to Jeddah were cancelled.

On Monday, cancellations included one Air India Express service, two Flynas services on the Riyadh–Kozhikode route and an Akasa Air service from Jeddah to Karipur.

Exporters have been unable to establish when normal flight operations and shipments will resume.

Perishable produce stranded as traders turn to local markets

Karipur’s exports to Saudi Arabia include drumsticks, ivy gourds, onions, shallots and snake gourds. Nendran bananas and smaller varieties of bananas are also shipped to the Gulf market.

Much of the produce is sourced from Tamil Nadu and transported for export through Karipur. Because these are perishable goods, prolonged disruptions can leave traders with limited time to find alternative buyers.

According to the report, several traders sold vegetables collected for export on Friday and Saturday in local markets after their shipments could not proceed.

KB Exporters owner K.B. Rafeeq said uncertainty persisted because the company had received no information about the resumption of flights to Saudi Arabia. He said his company previously exported five tonnes of fruits and vegetables daily through Karipur.

Export costs rise amid West Asia conflict

The disruption comes as exporters are already facing higher shipping costs amid the conflict in West Asia.

According to the report, the rate for transporting produce, previously around Rs 65–70 per kg, has increased to Rs 130–160 per kg. The higher costs add to the challenges facing exporters who rely on air connectivity to supply fresh produce to Gulf markets.

The latest cancellations have compounded the problem by interrupting the movement of goods even as traders contend with rising transportation expenses.

Why the Karipur disruption matters

Karipur serves as an important air-cargo link for exporters sending perishable agricultural produce from Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu to Gulf markets. Unlike non-perishable goods, fruits and vegetables cannot be stored indefinitely while traders wait for flights to resume.

The disruption highlights how conflict in West Asia can affect trade beyond the immediate aviation sector. Flight cancellations can interrupt export schedules, reduce access to overseas buyers and force traders to sell produce locally, potentially at less favourable prices.

The increase in reported transport rates from Rs 65–70 to Rs 130–160 per kg also indicates the additional pressure exporters face. If flight disruptions continue, traders may need alternative routes or markets, although the availability and cost of those options remain unclear.

For now, the key uncertainty is when services to Riyadh and Jeddah will resume and whether exporters can restart shipments before accumulated losses increase.