Shashi Tharoor Criticises Air India Over Gulf Flight Reductions from Kerala

Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor has raised concerns over the reported reduction of Air India flights from Kerala during the upcoming winter months, calling it a “disregard for Kerala’s interests.”

Tharoor wrote to Air India MD Campbell Wilson regarding the potential withdrawal of flights from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur between late October and March.

Impact on Passengers and Trade

Kerala is a major international aviation hub, especially for routes to the Gulf region. Tharoor highlighted that the flight cuts would adversely affect migrant workers, students, tourists, and families, while also impacting trade and tourism in the state.

In a post on X, he said:

“@airindia 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.”

Shift to Other Airlines

Tharoor, who previously praised Air India as his preferred airline, indicated that passengers may switch to competitors like IndiGo and Akasa Air if the airline continues to neglect Kerala.

“@IndiGo6E and @AkasaAir 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 wrote.

Air India Express Winter Schedule Changes

The concerns come after Air India Express reportedly announced the discontinuation of flights to Kozhikode and Kannur from Kuwait in its winter schedule. Local communities and the Indian diaspora in the Gulf have expressed worry that the decision will cause significant hardship for passengers from the Malabar region.

The official winter schedule, regulated by the DGCA, is expected to commence from late October.