Kochi: As many as 168 passengers departed from Cochin International Airport here on Thursday for the Emirates, ending months of uncertainty and relief to the stranded UAE expatriates in Kerala.

Air Arabia flight G9-426 departed to Sharjah at 0350 hrs with 69 passengers while the Emirates operated EK531 took off for Dubai wit 99 passengers at 1030 hrs.

The airport authorities have initiated discussions with UAE and Indian carriers to schedule more flights like Fly Dubai, Etihad, Air India Express, Indigo and SpiceJet to start operations in the coming days, a CIAL spokesman said.