Mangalore:Dubai-Mangalore Low-budget Flight Still Away from Couple of Months

• by Raviprasad Kamila for THE HINDU
  The airliner has deposited money with Airports Authority of India
  The Union Government has declared Bajpe airport a customs airport
  The Police department has provided training to the staff to be deployed for immigration clearance

MANGALORE, July 16: Air India is likely to launch its low-cost airline Air India Express between Dubai and Mangalore in a couple of months as it has deposited money with Airports Authority of India (AAI) to set up facilities at the Bajpe Airport.
Airport sources told The Hindu here on Friday that Air India was expected to start work on setting up facilities such as check-in counter and office and duty manager's room at the airport in a few days. Although the AAI had earlier allotted space for the airliner to set up its facilities at the airport, the latter had not deposited the amount needed for the purpose. But the amount was deposited on Thursday, they said.
Air India had proposed to start its Air India Express flight service between Mangalore and Dubai in May. But it did not materialise so far. It was said that the airline is facing shortage of aircraft.
The Union Government has declared Mangalore airport as the customs airport. The Police department has provided training to the staff to be deployed for immigration clearance at the Bureau of Immigration, Mumbai.
Directorate of Customs has also trained its manpower needed for customs clearance. The AAI has provided all basic facilities needed for starting service to international destinations.
Aviation policy
Only Air-India could start services to the Gulf according to the civil aviation policy, sources said.
But Air India had not begun any promotional activities for the proposed service. Hence it was not sure when exactly it would start it, sources said.