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Early reports put the number of cancelled flights at 168
Thiruvananthapuram: Hundreds of non-resident Keralites bound for the Gulf and other countries were stranded in different parts of the state as the national carrier Air India slashed a large number of flights from the state. Early reports put the number of cancelled flights at 168. The reason given by authorities is that several aircraft had been shifted to Uttar Pradesh for the benefit of Haj pilgrims from the northern Indian state.

Many of the passengers who were scheduled to take early morning flights today (Saturday), got a rude shock around 3am when it was notified that the Air India Express flight from here to Sharjah had been cancelled. Dozens of passengers who had arrived from different parts of the state, including many with infants, complained to the airline officials, who said they were helpless because aircraft were being diverted to UP.

Among the flights cancelled were those bound for Doha, Manama, Sharjah, Dubai, Riyadh and Kuwait. Many passengers complained that they were treated unfairly by the airline considering that they had booked the tickets weeks in advance and had travelled long distances to be at the Thiruvananthapuram and Nedumbassery airports to board the flights. “The least they could have done is to send a mail or an SMS alerting passengers about the cancellation of the flights,” a woman passenger from Chengannur said.

“There seems to be some conspiracy behind all this”, said travel industry expert, K.V. Muraleedharan. He said the fact that only aircraft operating out of Kerala were diverted to UP to ferry Haj pilgrims from there raised suspicion.

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For many NRIs from the state, the cancellation of flights and the subsequent delay in travelling is a life and death matter since their job visas could expire, leading to loss of jobs or punitive measures by employers. For others, too, the delay and uncertainty has led to financial losses as well since they have to stay put in the city until they are able to travel, incurring considerable expense.