AI flights: Chandy wants speedy action

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has come out strongly against the cancellation of flights to the Gulf sector by Air India.

 In a strongly-worded letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said that the action of AI, in addition to the jacking up of fares abnormally, had left State’s passengers literally in a lurch. The latest instance was the last-minute cancellation of the Sharjah flight on Saturday.

AI is regularly cancelling 11 flights a week from the state, with six flights scheduled from the capital, three from Karipur and two from Nedumbaserry, being cancelled.

 The issue was brought to the notice of all those concerned through memorandums, including during the Prime Minister’s recent visit for attending Emerging Kerala, Chandy said.

 The Chief Minister stressed in his letter that the plight of air passengers in Kerala could be solved only through the launch of Air Kerala and appealed to the Prime Minister to ensure that the green signal for the proposal in given at the earliest.