Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader and AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal on Thursday urged the Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu to immediately intervene and halt Air India’s proposed cuts to domestic and international services from four airports in Kerala.

Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express operate a significant number of flights, particularly to Middle Eastern destinations, serving as a vital lifeline for the state’s expatriate community.

Venugopal warned that reducing services would severely impact Kerala’s Gulf diaspora, many of whom rely on affordable air travel to return home.

“With Air India Express cutting services, other airlines may hike fares, creating a significant financial burden for thousands of Malayalis who are employed on modest incomes abroad,” he said.

He noted that the move would not only inconvenience workers during festival seasons and peak travel periods but also disrupt education and employment-related travel for students and professionals from the state.

According to reports, Air India is preparing to suspend services to major Gulf destinations, including Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, starting this month.

Highlighting the wider implications, Venugopal said the proposed reductions would undermine essential connectivity for Kerala’s expatriate population, who depend heavily on these routes for both work and family obligations.

He reminded the ministry that repeated appeals had been made in the past about soaring airfare and travel difficulties, yet effective intervention was still lacking.

“It is Imperative that the Centre restores and maintains these crucial Air India services, ensuring that travel remains affordable and accessible for all Malayalis living and working abroad,” Venugopal added.

The letter underscores rising concern among Kerala’s 2.5 million-strong diaspora, 85 per cent of whom are based in the Middle East, over shrinking flight options and escalating costs.

IANS