IndiGo crisis: Kerala CPM leader who once boycotted airline hits out after flight disruptions

Kannur: Senior CPM leader E P Jayarajan on Sunday criticised IndiGo Airlines, urging the carrier to “prioritise the public and drop the policy of doing anything for money.” His remarks came amid ongoing disruptions in the airline’s flight operations.

“Long back, I realised that the company was not heading in the right direction because of the stand they took against me. Some Congress leaders in Delhi colluded with IndiGo, and a travel ban was imposed on me,” he told a news channel here.

He said despite his stand against the airline, he had to take an IndiGo flight to New Delhi when CPM leader Sitaram Yechury passed away in 2024.

Accusing the Centre of inaction, Jayarajan said the BJP-led government in the Centre was answerable for the ongoing issues with IndiGo.

“Not just flight cancellations, they are charging prices higher than what authorities permit. It is a case of harvesting during peak season for them. The aviation ministry has not taken any action,” he alleged.

Jayarajan said he still stands by his view on IndiGo as he was punished for protecting the Chief Minister.

“Actually, they should have given me an award. Instead, they protected the perpetrators,” he said.

Asked about his most recent trip on IndiGo, Jayarajan said he flew to Thiruvananthapuram on one of their flights last month.

EP Jayarajan’s battle with IndiGo Airlines

The tussle between EP Jayarajan and Indigo Airlines began in 2022 when Youth Congress leaders protested against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inside an IndiGo flight. Jayarajan, who was also present on the flight, manhandled the duo which he denied. Following this, the Indigo Company issued notices to both the Youth Congress leaders and Jayarajan, banning them. While the Youth Congress leaders were banned for two weeks, Jayarajan was banned for three weeks.

Infuriated by this, Jayarajan announced that he would boycott Indigo. He then said that the travel ban imposed on him was illegal and that IndiGo was a substandard company.

“Even if I have to walk, I will not board Indigo,” he had said.

Jayarajan had pointed out that IndiGo had wrongly imposed a travel ban on him for a longer period of time than it had done on the in-flight trespassers. He demanded that Indigo come out with a public apology as it had made a “grave mistake”.

He had also announced that he would boycott the airlines until it tenders a public apology. At that time, Jayarajan was the LDF convener. Following the incident, he returned by train from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram. He could not rely on other airlines as only IndiGo operated on the Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram route.

Later in November, 2023, Jayarajan was again able to 'fly' from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram with the launch of Air India Express flight service. And it was big news as he boarded a flight from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram again after a long time.

For more than a year, Jayarajan relied on the train for Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram journeys.

(with inputs from PTI)