AI Express: Abu Dhabi- Muscat-Mangalore Flight from Jan 07

Daijiworld News Network
Dubai, Nov 18: The handling of international flights at Mangalore airport is slowly benefiting other Gulf countries too, besides the UAE.

It is expected that, by 2007, Kuwait, Riyadh, Dhahran, Doha, Bahrain and Muscat will be linked direct to Mangalore, since a sizeable number of Mangaloreans as well as northern Keralites are currently residing at these places.

Now here is a report that would certainly bring cheer to many Mangalore-bound people in Abu Dhabi and Muscat. Air India Express, the airline that landed the very first International flight at Mangalore, has assured that upon arrival of the next new fleet of aircraft in January 2007, it will fly Abu Dhabi-Muscat-Mangalore at least three times a week.

Captain P P Singh, chief Operating Officer of Air India Charters Ltd, in a letter to Rajesh Sequeira, convener of the Karnataka NRI Forum in the UAE, has assured that "Our future plans for Mangalore include increasing flights from Dubai to Mangalore to six flights a week and also to link Abu Dhabi and Muscat to Mangalore. This would be possible probably from January 2007 onwards when we get delivery of the additional aircraft."

He was responding to a letter from Rajesh to civil aviation minister Praful Patel, seeking more flights between Dubai and Mangalore and linking of Mangalore to other Gulf destinations.

It can be recalled that aviation minister Praful Patel had assured daijiworld.com on October 3, 2006 that daily flights from Dubai to Mangalore would be introduced soon. He was obviously impressed with the response of the NRIs to the first flight to Mangalore. He was himself present at Bajpe to welcome the maiden-flight passengers from Dubai to Mangalore on October 3.

Capt P p Singh was extremely happy the way the baggage handling system had improved over the last couple of weeks. A report on daijiworld.com has created great awareness and the passengers are now carrying limited baggage to their destination.

"We have been advised by our Mangalore manager that the flight has now stabilized and there are hardly any complaints in this regard," said Capt P P Sing in his letter.

It has been encouraging news that several NRI forums in the Gulf countries like Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia are taking the initiative to press for direct flight operations from their respective bases to Mangalore.

The work on the new terminal for international passengers at the Bajpe Airport is expected to be completed by end-April 2007, after which the congestion and delay in clearing passenger and baggage would be eased. At the same time, many addititonal flights to other domestic and international points are expected to be introduced.

In Muscat, Dr Satish Nambiar, Francis Aranha, Shaukat Assadi and others have already taken the initiative for Muscat-Mangalore direct flights, by submitting a memorandum to Oman Air and Indian Airlines and are determined to follow it up.

Since Mangalore is still a 'Custom Airport', no foreign airlines are allowed to land as of now. The civil aviation ministry has to clear the legal process for any foreign airlines to land in Mangalore.

Air India Express and Indian Airlines being national carriers of India already have permission to land from International points.

Daijiworld.com, which played a key role in bringing about awareness for getting international flights to Mangalore, will continue its energetic and authentic role as media, until all Gulf destinations are connected to Mangalore.

"Though the UAE is privileged to get the first flight to Mangalore, it will be unfair if we keep quiet and complacent only with this sole achievement. There are several thousands of Mangalore-bound people in other Gulf countries who are keenly waiting to fly to Mangalore direct. I will be travelling across the Gulf destinations to meet various NRI organizations and to pledge support and assistance," said Rajesh Sequiera to daijiworld.com

As usual, Daijiworld.com will keep you updated on further developments in the coming days.

Muscat - M'lore Direct Flight: NRI Forum Meets Indian Officials

Report by Clarence PintoPics by Dilip correa Daijiworld News Network - Muscat
Muscat, Nov 16: The representatives of the NRI Forum (NRI Steering Committee ) in the Sultanate of Oman are constantly and steadily continuing their efforts to influence the high level officials of Indian Government and Airlines organizations to establish a direct flight from Muscat to Mangalore.
High level delegation of Indian (Indian Airlines Limited – New Delhi), comprising of Mrs Anita Khurana, Commercial Director – Indian , K. Shyam Sundar, Dy. General Manager (Marketing Planning – Indian, and Pankaj Srivastava – Regional Manager – Gulf are currently in Muscat for the last two days.Dr. Satish Nambiar, Honorary Chairman of Indian Social Club and leading member of NRI Forum and Francis Aranha, the Mangalorean who initiated this campaign were at the Muscat Intercontinental Hotel to present the copies of the memorandum, which was earlier forwarded to the His Excellency Praful Patel, Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India and Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister of Karnataka.As per the reliable sources, memorandum to the Indian Government and also, to the Karnataka Government has strong request emphasizing the urgent requirement of a direct flight to Mangalore.

On behalf of NRI Forum, Dr. Nambiar expressed a deep desire of the whole Coastal Karnataka expatriates living in Oman of having a direct flight from Muscat to Mangalore. He also expressed the strong views that this direct connection would benefit not only the people of Mangalore Coast but also thousands of expatriates from North Kerala and other districts surrounding Mangalore like Coorg and North Kanara.

Francis Aranha explained that the education field of Mangalore is very important and interesting to the Omani Nationals and many are already studying in various Mangalore Educational Institutions. He also indicated that Mangalore is becoming a strong center for developments of IT industry and Special Economic Zones.

Anita Khurana assured to extend a full support to the Mangalorean community in Oman and try her level best to fulfill their dream by introducing a direct flight from Indian. Indian is expected to get new aircrafts in June 2007 and then, Indian will have greater chances to do necessary work of introducing the direct flight to Mangalore. However, she has assured to look into the matter on priority basis and work on getting a direct flight to Mangalore at the earliest.
She also mentioned that during her stay in Oman for the last two days, Mangalore had been strongly highlighted by the local Indian Officials. She also indicated that the infrastructure in Mangalore airport has to be increased drastically to accommodate more flights.
The enthusiasm in community, that of Mangaloreans in the Sultanate of Oman, is unceasing. Every Coastal Karnataka expat in Muscat is very much eager to fly in a direct flight from Muscat to Mangalore.

Dubai - Mangalore AI Express : Mind Your luggage

Daijiworld News Network

Dubai, Nov 1: Air India Express, India's first budget airline which operated to Mangalore on October 3 the very first International flight at Bajpe is currently experiencing heavy rush from the Dubai - Mangalore passengers as well as heavy baggage.
Over the last two weeks or so, passengers are carrying heavy baggage despite of restriction of 30kg per person. Now that the hassle of changing the aircraft in Mumbai has been totally eliminated, it is possible that passengers are carrying extra luggage even by paying excess fare. Though such passengers willingly pay the excess fare, the aircraft's infrastructure and handling facilities at Mangalore airport appear to be unable to cope with the excess.
Recently some of the passengers who travelled by the direct flight have faced inconvenience with part of their luggage arriving on later dates. Excess luggage is being despatched by Air India Express' next available flight because of the capacity problem or local handling problem at destination port.
A few passengers have requested daijiworld to address the issue with the authorities concerned. Upon a request from daijiworld, S. Talwar, a top executive of AI Express said that passengers have to restrict their carriage of check-in baggage to maximum 30kg and handbag up to 7kg. This could avoid arrival of luggage at the destination by the next flight.
Talwar further said, "Although we are taking corrective action on the booked profile of flights, carriage of excess baggage needs to be discouraged with immediate effect. We do appreciate that passengers are keen to carry EBG on payment, but you will understand that the situation arising on account of left-behind baggage is causing great inconvenience to our passengers and leading to avoidable complaints. The problem gets compounded due to inadequate infrastructure facilities at Mangalore Aiport and thrice-a-week services of AIE."
When contacted, the Mangalore airport authorities said that measures have been taken to solve this problem. They added that flights had been coming full and all efforts were being made to avoid any chances of inconvenience.
"Initially we faced some inconvenience. As everyone knows, Mangalore airport is not fully equipped international airport. Only because of the pressure from the people, the government was obliged to fly international flights. Some genuine inconvenience will have to be tolerated at times," said an official who did not want to be named.