Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor expressed deep concern over reports of large-scale cancellations of Air India Express flights to and from Kerala in the upcoming winter schedule and said it would hamper the state's trade and tourism.
Air India Express is the low cost arm of Air India Group that is owned by the Tatas. Air India, Tharoor posted on X, "Must stop treating Kerala as an afterthought".
In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, tagged to the Tatas, Tharoor said, “According to widely-circulated media accounts, a significant number of flights are being withdrawn from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur between late October and March."
Tharoor warned that any curtailment of services would cause severe hardship for migrant workers, students, tourists, and families, while also affecting trade and tourism. He criticised Air India for treating Kerala “as an afterthought,” pointing out that even business-class services on the Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram route have been withdrawn.
He also noted that other airlines, including IndiGo and Akasa Air, are ready to step in, and many passengers may switch to carriers offering better attention.
“I had publicly hailed Air India as my favourite airline. But when facts change, opinions can change too,” he wrote. Tharoor called on Air India and Tata Companies to give Kerala the attention it deserves.
"I have written to @airindia MD Campbell Wilson to express my deep concern over reports of large-scale cancellations of @airindiaexpress services from Kerala's airports in the forthcoming winter schedule. According to widely-circulated media accounts, a significant number of flights are being withdrawn from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur between late October and March," he added.
The winter schedule for flights starts from late October and is yet to be announced by civil aviation regulator DGCA.
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