Thiruvananthapuram Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has raised sharp concerns over reports that Air India Express is planning large-scale cancellations of services from Kerala’s airports in the upcoming winter schedule.
In a post on X on September 29, Tharoor said he had written to Air India CEO and managing director Campbell Wilson, objecting to the reported withdrawal of flights between late October and March. According to him, flights from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur are expected to be affected.
The Congress MP pointed out that Kerala is one of the busiest aviation hubs in the country, with a heavy flow of passengers to the Gulf. He warned that a cutback in services would hit migrant workers, students and families, while also hurting trade and tourism.
He also flagged the withdrawal of business-class services on the Delhi–Thiruvananthapuram route, which he called the longest single-sector flight in India. Tharoor said such moves were “adding insult to injury” and hinted that if Air India continues to sideline Kerala, travellers would have no hesitation in shifting to other airlines like IndiGo or Akasa.
Tharoor, who had earlier described Air India as his favourite airline, said his views were changing with the new developments. “When facts change, opinions can change as well,” he remarked, adding that he hoped the airline would reconsider.
Earlier, leader of opposition in the Kerala assembly VD Satheesan also wrote to Union civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, urging urgent intervention. Sharing his letter on X, Satheesan said that cutting Gulf services from Kerala would be a blow to lakhs of expatriates who rely on affordable direct flights. He called on the minister to ensure Kerala gets its “rightful share” of services.
The airline has not issued a detailed response yet, but the developments have sparked unease among Kerala’s large expatriate community and regular Gulf-bound travellers. Whether Air India revises its winter schedule remains to be seen.