• February 5, 2025

UK Malayalees rally for direct London-Kochi flights amid Air India cancellation

UK Malayalees rally for direct London-Kochi flights amid Air India cancellation

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON Feb 5: Following Air India’s recent announcement to suspend direct flights between Kochi and London Gatwick, the UK Malayalee community has galvanized efforts to pressure bureaucrats and politicians in the UK and India to address their urgent demand for a direct flight connection between the two cities.

The cancellation of Air India’s direct service, set to take effect on March 30th, 2025, has left many UK Malayalees concerned about the potential inconvenience and additional costs they may face with alternative routes involving layovers in Delhi or Mumbai.

UUKMA, an organization representing various Malayalee associations in the UK, initiated a petition on Change.org, requesting the reinstatement of direct flight services between Kochi and London. The petition was presented to Mike Kane MP, who acknowledged the severity of the situation and vowed to look into the matter, suggesting the possibility of involving British Airways in the discussion.

Meanwhile, Dr. Juna Sathyan, a cabinet member of Newcastle City Council, has reached out to multiple authorities, including the High Commissioner of India to the UK, the Consul General of India to the UK, and the Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, urging them to intervene and reconsider Air India’s decision.

Dr. Juna Sathyan has also appealed to India’s Ministry of Tourism for intervention. Her request has been forwarded to Minister of State Shri Suresh Gopi MP, and she awaits a response. In addition, she has contacted Air India directly to voice her concerns and encourage them to reconsider their decision.

As the UK Malayalee community continues to advocate for a direct London-Kochi flight, their collective efforts underscore the importance of this route for both personal and economic reasons.