BENGALURU- AirAsia (AK) has officially cut its only international flight to Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ), ending a brief but significant chapter in the history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The final flight AirAsia AK54 departed for Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 12:25 PM on April 10, 2025, marking the end of international connectivity for the isolated archipelago.

This decision ends the short-lived direct air link between Port Blair and Malaysia. The inaugural flight, AirAsia AK55, landed at IXZ on November 16, 2024, becoming the airport’s first international commercial arrival. AirAsia’s decision to exit the Port Blair–Kuala Lumpur route has left Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) without any operational international flights, stripping it of the practical significance behind its “International” designation. The airline provided no official explanation, and the cancellation came without prior public consultation or alternatives.

The route was seen as a breakthrough, offering a direct link between the islands and Southeast Asia, especially beneficial for tourism, business, and medical travel. For residents and tourism stakeholders, it was more than a convenience—it symbolized inclusion in the global aviation network. However, with low demand, logistical challenges, and possibly high operating costs, the service appears to have been deemed unsustainable by AirAsia. The lack of public data on load factors and profitability adds to the uncertainty surrounding the decision. Stakeholders are now left with unresolved questions about whether reduced frequencies or freight options could have saved the route.