Satheesan urges Centre to intervene in Air India Express service cuts

Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan on Sunday sought the Centre’s rapid intervention over Air India Express’s reported resolution to curtail companies from the State’s airports from October.

In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Okay. Rammohan Naidu, Satheesan stated the transfer has brought about “severe concern among the many individuals of Kerala”, particularly the expatriate group within the Gulf.

“It is known that a number of companies from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur to key Gulf locations are set to be decreased or withdrawn, whereas extra flights are being shifted to Mangaluru, Jaipur, and Lucknow,” he stated.

The Congress chief identified that whereas the airline has cited financial causes, the choice “is questionable as Gulf routes from Kerala are amongst Air India Express’s most worthwhile.” “Curtailment of such companies will trigger immense hardship to lakhs of Malayalis working within the Gulf, who rely closely on reasonably priced and direct connectivity,” he stated.

Satheesan stated the Malayali diaspora has lengthy been the spine of India’s remittance economic system, and decreasing direct flight connectivity from Kerala would inconvenience passengers, improve prices, and power them to take longer routes by way of different States.

He urged the Centre to intervene instantly and direct the airline to assessment the proposed cuts, guaranteeing Kerala’s airports proceed to obtain due precedence in Air India Express operations.