© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor strongly criticised Air India Express’s decision to slash a significant number of flights from Kerala in its upcoming winter schedule. In a post on X, Thaoor lashed out at Air India Managing Director and CEO Campbell Wilson, expressing his “deep concern” over what he called the airline’s continued neglect of the state and urged the national carrier to “stop treating Kerala as an afterthought.”
Citing media reports, Tharoor stated that a large number of flights are being withdrawn from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur between late October and March. Highlighting a recent move by Air India to eliminate business-class services on the Delhi–Thiruvananthapuram route, Tharoor called the latest round of cancellations an “insult to injury.”
“Air India must stop treating Kerala as an afterthought: withdrawing business-class services on the longest single-sector flight in India (Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram) has already added insult to injury,” Tharoor wrote on X.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP also issued a clear warning that if the airline continues to ignore Kerala’s needs, passengers will take their business elsewhere.
“If Air India continues its disregard for Kerala’s interests, IndiGo and Akasa Air are waiting in the wings, and many of us will have no compunction about switching our allegiance to those who give us the attention we deserve,” he said. “I had publicly hailed Air India as my favourite airline. But when facts change, opinions can change too. I hope all concerned will pay due attention.”
See the post here:
The post quickly gained traction, prompting a deluge of reactions. “As an airline professional, I can vouch for Kerala’s market potential. Cutting frequencies & not revising bilaterals forces Keralites to route via other hubs — neither fair nor convenient for a community sending one of India’s highest inward remittances,” a user wrote. “We need another player, Sir after, the exit of Jet Airways and kingfisher and the hobbling spicejet! Hope Tata or some new airline starts all over India. Indigo too takes pax for granted try them sometime albeit with a disguise!” another user commented.
“Airlines that ignore this will pay the price in passengers,” a third user reacted.
Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, has also written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, calling the decision “deeply troubling.”
“It is understood that several services from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur to key Gulf destinations are set to be reduced or withdrawn, while additional flights are being shifted to Mangaluru, Jaipur, and Lucknow,” Satheesan stated.
He questioned the rationale behind the move, noting that Gulf routes from Kerala are among the most profitable for Air India Express.
“While the airline has cited economic reasons, the decision is questionable as Gulf routes from Kerala are among Air India Express’s most profitable. Curtailment of such services will cause immense hardship to lakhs of Malayalis working in the Gulf, who rely heavily on affordable and direct connectivity,” he added.
