Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 5 (IANS): About 15 officials of Air India from the commercial division here were transferred to other locations in Kerala on Saturday.

All 15 of them hold the same designation - assistant manager.

This cannot be termed as a mass transfer as Air India is a very big organisation, Air India station manager S.B.S Jacobs told IANS here.

"I am unable to provide details of why this many people were transferred because all such decisions are taken by the management. But there is not going to be any replacement for those who have been transferred," said Jacobs.

While nine of them were transferred to Kochi, six of them have been asked to report at Kozhikode.

Three are women employees, who have all been posted to Kochi.

"The basic norms that should be adhered to have been overlooked. Moreover, the transfer to Kozhikode comes at a time when on account of the re-laying of the runway at the Kozhikode international airport, a good number of flights were cancelled," said an Air India staffer who did not wish to be identified.

This has happened at a time when there has been a change of guard at the highest level of the national carrier.