Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor recently voiced significant apprehension regarding Air India Express’s proposed reduction of flights to and from several cities in Kerala. He emphasized that the airline “must cease treating Kerala as an afterthought,” highlighting the potential negative repercussions.
Air India Express operates as the budget-friendly division of the Tata-owned Air India Group.
In a social media post, Mr. Tharoor revealed that he had formally written to Campbell Wilson, the Managing Director of Air India, to convey his “deep concern” about widespread reports of service cutbacks. These reports suggest a substantial number of Air India Express flights from Kerala’s key airports – Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur – are slated for withdrawal between late October and March as part of the upcoming winter schedule.
Representing the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, Mr. Tharoor underlined Kerala’s crucial role as one of India’s busiest aviation hubs. He pointed out the state’s remarkably high volume of international passenger traffic, particularly to the Gulf countries, which makes any service reduction particularly impactful.
He warned that such a reduction in services would undoubtedly inflict severe hardship upon migrant workers, students, tourists, and families. Furthermore, it would significantly impede the region’s trade and tourism sectors. He reiterated his firm stance that Air India needs to prioritize Kerala’s interests rather than overlooking them.
Adding to the frustration, Mr. Tharoor noted that the decision to discontinue business-class services on the Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram route, India’s longest single-sector flight, already felt like “adding insult to injury.”
As of now, the Air India Group has not issued any immediate statement or comment in response to these concerns.
The forthcoming winter schedule for flights, which typically commences in late October, is still awaiting an official announcement from the aviation regulator, DGCA.
Mr. Tharoor issued a clear warning, stating that if Air India persists in neglecting Kerala’s interests, competitors like IndiGo and Akasa Air are ready to step in. He suggested that many passengers would not hesitate to shift their loyalty to airlines that demonstrate appropriate attention and service to the region.
Reflecting on his past support, he concluded his post by saying, “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.” He also tagged the Tata Companies, urging them to take note.