Passengers protest as AI cancels flights

Utter confusion prevailed at Kochi International Airport on Friday when Air India announced cancellation of some flights following oil companies issuing notice to AI demanding settlement of mounting fuel dues.

Passengers and their relatives, who reached the airport, shouted slogans and protested the "indifferent and irresponsible" attitude of AI in operating its services. 

AI sources claimed that the passengers were informed sufficiently early about the possibility of cancellation of the flights, due to "fuel crisis". AI had announced that Riyad-bound AI flight from Thiruvananthapuram via Kochi (AI 928/929) would be cancelled today, but passengers who arrived without knowing about the cancellation shouted slogans against Air India, they said.

About 164 passengers had reserved the tickets to travel from Kochi to Riyad, the airport sources said. However, the Air India Management decided to operate the Thiruvananthapuram-Kochi-Riyad flight later. But there were only a few passengers who reported at Kochi to travel by the flight. The check-in process began at 02:15 pm.

The flight is expected to arrive at Kochi from Thiruvananthapuram and leave for Riyad at 04:30 pm. Meanwhile, the Air India Flight from Kochi to Chennai (AI 519) has been cancelled owing to the fuel crisis, sources said. The flight was scheduled to leave at 02:15 pm.