Annai Tamil Mandram Arranges First Chartered Flight from Bahrain to Chennai

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CHENNAI: A special chartered flight has been arranged to help stranded passengers travel from Bahrain to Chennai, following disruptions caused by the closure of Bahrain’s airspace since February 28, 2026.

The initiative was by Annai Tamil Mandram, a Bahrain-based social organization serving the Tamil community. The group stepped in after many passengers struggled to find travel options to Tamil Nadu as commercial flights were heavily disrupted and rerouted through other regional airports such as Dammam.

Despite several passengers managing to travel to different destinations in India through alternative routes, there were limited direct options to reach Tamil Nadu. In response, many members of the Tamil community in Bahrain approached Annai Tamil Mandram requesting assistance in arranging a dedicated flight to their home state.

Following multiple rounds of discussions with Gulf Air and other stakeholders, the organization successfully arranged a special chartered flight for 192 passengers, scheduled to operate from Bahrain to Chennai via Dammam on March 18, 2026.

The passengers on board include pregnant women, elderly individuals, young children, and several bachelor passengers who needed to travel urgently for important family events such as upcoming weddings. According to the organizers, many travellers were facing time-sensitive situations and sought immediate help.

Annai Tamil Mandram described the initiative as a historic step, noting that such a community-organized charter service connecting Bahrain to Tamil Nadu had not been arranged before.

The organization’s President G.K. Senthil and General Secretary Palanichamy expressed their appreciation to Gulf Air, travel partner TVS Travels, and the Government of Bahrain for their support, approvals, and coordination in making the flight possible.

They also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant Secretary Arun Ramalingam, Vice President Balachander, executive members, and the women’s wing of the organization for their work in coordinating the operation.

Due to strong demand from the community, Annai Tamil Mandram said it is currently working with Gulf Air to arrange two additional chartered flights to Tamil Nadu in the coming days, with further details expected to be announced soon.