Air India Express cancels 203 flights

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air India Express on Saturday released information on its cancelled flights during September and October. ‘Operational reasons’ have been cited for the cancellation of flights.

* The Thiruvananthapuram-Abu Dhabi flights on the following days stand cancelled: September 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 and 29 and October 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26 and 27.

* Thiruvanathapuram-Dubai sector: September 21, 25, 27, 28 and October 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 23, 25, 26 and 30.

* Thiruvananthapuram-Sharjah: September 21, 23, 28, 30 and October 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26 and 28.

* Thiruvananthapuram-Muscat: September 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 and October 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27.

Most of the flights have been cancelled only after September 21 so as to minimise inconvenience to passengers in view of the school re-opening and Ramzan traffic, Air India station manager (Thiruvananthapuram) K D Sivanath said.

Air India Express offers a full refund of fares if alternate flights or dates do not suit the passengers. The Air India also stressed that only ‘some of the Air India Express flights are cancelled and all the Air India flights (AI coded and IC coded flights) will be operated as normal’. Passengers have also been requested to contact the Air India office over 0471-2319595 or the travel agents for rescheduling of flights.

Air India Express had cancelled a total of 203 flights from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.

While the airline has not come out with an official explanation, acute shortage of crew is understood to be the reason for the cancellations.