Over 30 AIE flights cancelled in Kerala putting thousands in trouble

Air India Express cancels over 90 flights, leaving passengers stranded, with crew members reporting sick en masse.

Putting tens of thousands of passengers in difficulty, Air India Express cancelled/delayed over 90 international and domestic flights with a section of crew members reporting sick en masse on May 7.

Kerala was hit hardest by the flight disruptions, as the airline is the largest player from the State in the international sector.

Over 30 services, each flight having carrying capacity of 180 passengers, were cancelled in Kerala alone. As many as nine services, including three arrivals and four departures, were cancelled at the Thiruvananthapuram airport while the airline cancelled seven services, including four arrivals and three departures, at the Cochin international airport.

As many as 12 services from the Calicut international airport and four services from the Kannur airport were cancelled till evening.

Airing their protest, passengers said the airline did not inform them about the cancellation on time. The airline’s offer to refund tickets or tickets at another date failed to pacify them.

Pradeep, going to Muscat from Thiruvananthapuram, said he had to report to his workplace on Thursday morning as his visa would expire on Friday.

The Thiruvananthapuram-Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram-Sharjah, Thiruvananthapuram-Abu Dhabi, Thiruvananthapuram-Dubai, Thiruvananthapuram-Muscat, and Thiruvananthapuram-Bengaluru flights were cancelled.