Air India Express to temporarily suspend flights to four cities from Chennai
Air India Express is suspending flights from Chennai to four cities, citing seasonal demand adjustments and a strategic shift toward Bengaluru. Industry experts suggest that Chennai needs to improve its economic job market to compete with Bengaluru for aviation connectivity.
Why it matters
The reduction in flight connectivity highlights regional economic disparities and the impact of corporate hub strategies on local infrastructure.
Air India Express plans to temporarily suspend flights from Chennai to Madurai, Port Blair, Guwahati, and Hyderabad from the end of October.
As a result, IndiGo will be the lone operator to destinations such as Guwahati, Madurai, and Hyderabad. After suspending the Chennai-Madurai services, Air India Express will introduce Bengaluru-Madurai flights.
Airline sources told The Hindu that these were ‘seasonal cuts’ and they might consider resuming it later next year based on the demand. The airline has been focusing on making Bengaluru their hub for various reasons.
It is to be noted that IndiGo is the sole operator for flights from Chennai to destinations such as Coimbatore, Tiruchi, and Kochi.
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