Under new winter schedule effective October 28 despite commanding load factor of about 80%; travel industry disappointed
Air India Express, a major air operator from the city, has decided to withdraw its twice-a-week service on the Chennai-Tiruchi-Abu Dhabi/Abu Dhabi-Tiruchi-Chennai sector under its winter schedule, effective October 28, much to the discontent of the travel industry here.
The move, coming after repeated curtailment of various services in December last year and in February this year, has come as a shock to the travel industry here. According to sources, the service to Abu Dhabi currently operated on Thursdays and Saturdays would stand withdrawn under the winter schedule that would be in effect till March end next year. However, the thrice-a-week Tiruchi-Dubai-Tiruchi service would be made a daily service under the winter schedule.
The withdrawal of the Abu Dhabi service would also entail cancellation of a couple of flights a week on Chennai-Tiruchi/Tiruchi-Chennai sector too.
Travel industry representatives are flabbergasted by the continuing action of Air India Express to withdraw services on profitable routes from Tiruchi such as the Abu Dhabi service.
The service was one of the earliest services being operated by the national carrier from Tiruchi and had been commanding a good load factor of about 80 per cent.
Migrant workers
A large number of migrant workers from the Central and Southern districts have been patronising the service and the withdrawal of the service would cause much inconvenience to them, they said.
Notwithstanding the strong opposition from the travel trade here, Air India Express has been continuously withdrawing flights ex-Tiruchi over the past 10 months.
In December last year, it withdrew 10 flights a week from Tiruchi citing crew constraints.
The Abu Dhabi service was curtailed to twice a week instead of three services and daily direct Tiruchi-Kuala Lumpur service was reduced to three days a week. Subsequently, the Kuala Lumpur service was fully withdrawn in February and instead a connection was offered from Chennai four days a week, evoking strong protests from the travel industry here.
“We are pained by Air India’s decisions to withdraw services from Tiruchi. The Abu Dhabi service was very popular among semi-skilled migrant workers from the southern districts, especially those working in oil companies in Abu Dhabi. The withdrawal of the service would force them to depend on services from Chennai,” said M.S. Paramasivam, chairman, Travel Agents Association of India, South Tamil Nadu Chapter.
The travel industry representatives have had already registered their strong opposition to the frequent cancellation of flights over the past several months. It is regrettable that more and more flights are cancelled from Tiruchi.
Despite being a highly profitable station for the airline, Tiruchi was being accorded a step-motherly treatment, they said and added that decisions would only help the private carriers. Representations to the Civil Aviation Minister have not received a favourable response so far, they regretted.
Air india express services started after the then law minister Mr.
Jayakumar of the AIADMK had visited Abu dhabi and took interest in
hearing to NRI's belonging to Tiruchi and its neighborhood Madurai,
Chidambaram, Cuddalore, Tirunelvelli, etc.. for a budget airline. The
state minister and the CM had co-ordinated with the centre for this
service which the Abu dhabi NRI's enjoyed till late. We hope the
congress at the centre supports this and am sure this would help the
congress vote bank too from the people of tiruchi & NRI's if this
service is restored.
Why they are frequently change the flight from Trichy?.Trichy is middle city of Tamil nadu.Most of the Dubai migrants are depending only on Air India express.These kind of decision will help Sri lankan airline only.
We want to avoid Sinhalese based airlines due the massacre against Tamils in their own country.
So i request the govt of india to take necessary steps to operate daily flight from DUBAI TO TRICHY/ABUDHABI TO TRICHY thrice in week.
As there is no direct flight from abudhabi to Chennai/Trichy from Air India also , this service should not be withdrawn.Inspite of making requests also if they are withdrawing it indirectly favouring the private Airlines to make money
It's very disheartening to see this news. This development will drive away the passengers to bigger Airports like Chennai, which is already overcrowded and also have Higher User development fee. This will be detrimental to Trichy's image as an international destination and also result in loss of much needed revenue there.There is no real effort to develop second tier cities in Tamil Nadu like Madurai, Trichy, Tirunelveli and Salem. The development is concentrated only in the metros and big cities like Chennai. This has to Change!
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