KOCHI: In a blow to Kochi's ambition to emerge as a business hub for airline companies, the Air India Express headquarters has been shifted to Gurugram in Haryana, resulting in the loss of around 300 jobs in the city. According to sources, the transfer of administrative staff began in 2023, affecting around 300 employees who were transferred from Kochi to the Vatika One-on-One complex in Gurugram.
“The change has hurt many staff members, leading to several resignations,” a source said.
However, Air India Express will retain its office at Elam Kalam, Kochi with a skeleton staff.
A spokesman for the airline termed the move to Gurugram as strategic. “This strategic move is aimed at enhancing collaboration and synergy between Air India and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, both owned by the Tata Group.”
Air India Express is headquartered in Kochi since 1 January 2013. It was aimed at catering to the large number of low-cost travelers from Kerala to the GCC countries, which have about 2.5 million expatriates living in the Gulf region.
Despite the change in headquarters, the Kochi airport will remain the main hub of operations for Air India Express, the spokesperson said.
“Senior staff were shifted to the new head office in 2023, remaining employees were shifted in March 2024. Currently, all Air India Express and AIX Connect employees are based at the Gurugram complex,” the spokesperson said.
Air India Express staff have been at loggerheads with its management in recent months, disrupting its operations. In May, Air India Express faced turmoil when nearly 300 senior cabin crew members called in sick together, leading to the cancellation of more than 200 flights and stranding thousands of passengers. The protest over alleged mismanagement at the airline was resolved after four days of talks at the Chief Labor Commissioner's office in New Delhi.