Indians in Bahrain, who are awaiting the low-cost Air India Express flights in April, are unhappy, as the services would not benefit a majority of low-paid workers.

The Indian Community Relief Fund said 25 per cent of the low fare tickets would be available only if tickets are booked early which is not possible in case of the workers who are granted vacation leave just 24 hours in advance and passports at the time of departure.

The luggage of allowance of 30 kilograms as against 50 kilograms allowed by full service airlines does not benefit them either as they do not have facilities to book tickets online.

ICRF spokesman C R Nambiar said according to its estimates, over 15,000 people would be able to travel home every year if they were given the advantages of low fares.

The budget airline would operate 12 weekly flights between Bahrain and various Indian destinations, via Doha.

Of these, three would be to Mumbai, two to New Delhi and the remaining seven shared between the three Kerala cities - Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.