Media releaseDammam, Apr 21: west coast NRI Forum, Saudi Arabia's office-bearers recently met Air India Al Khobar manager Deepak Anand to impress upon him regarding the need to commence direct flights from Dammam to Mangalore as early as possible.
The delegation led by forum president Farooque Sabandary comprised of organizing secretary Vishwanath Kamath, general secretary Narayan Bhat and lady member Nandita Vishwanath. They urged Deepak Anand to convince the Air India management to introduce direct flights at the earliest.
Deepak Anand responded highlighting the need of upgrading earlier agreement with the Saudi aviation ministry to include its subsidiary Air India Express. Communication with the Saudi avaition ministry is in progress and an NOC to commence direct flight from Dammam was expected soon, Anand said.
Air India management needs to appoint a GSA agent in Saudi Arabia for Air India Express which is under consideration. This would enable Saudi Arabia passengers to avail themselves of the ticketing facility to travel to Mangalore at least via Bahrain flight.
west Coast NRI Forum, Saudi Arabia, has recalled the magnanimity of Air India Express in introducing a direct flight on Bahrain-Mangalore- Bahrain sector every Tuesday and Sunday. Forum members, on behalf of passengers, expressed their desire to catch this flight which is possible only on issue of tickets in Air India Express from Bahrain and by travelling by bus from Dammam to Bahrain by via King Fahad causeway.
Deepak Anand further assured the delegation of impressing upon the Air India manangement to accord facility to avail this provision to travel via Bahrain to Managlore and vice versa. The forum members assured him of its fullest support and cooperation in this regard.
The forum members complimented Deepak Anand who was instrumental along with Mangalore airport director M R Vasudeva in getting the Managore airport survey done. It was with the efforts of both these officials besides others that Mangalore airport acquired international airport status. It has enabled Gulf passengers to enjoy the privileige of direct flights from their respective points of stay.
The forum members expressed the hope that their dream of direct flight on the Dammam-Mangalore-Dammam sector would be realized soon. The role of the West Coast NRI Forum towards the cause was appreciated by the Air India manager.
The West Coast NRI Forum recalled with gratitude the selfless support extended by M R Vasudeva and Karnataka NRI Forum UAE coordinator Rajesh Sequeira, and expressed their sincere thanks to them.
In addition, the forum members expressed their happiness towards the motivation provided by former Karnataka minister R V Deshpande, union civil aviation minister Praful Kumar Patel with their efforts in enhancing the overall development of Mangalore,Udupi and Uttar Kannada districts by linking the Gulf countries and the NRIs' constructive role in general.
The forum has also expressed the media support, especially from daijiword.com at the international level and Udayavani at the regional level, by exerting pressure on the officials concerned, to start direct flights from Saudi Arabia to Mangalore and has fervently requested them to continue their efforts in making their dream a reality.
Organizing secretary Vishwanath Kamath urged all concerned to support the long -waited dream of direct flight from Dammam to Mangalore. He also thanked Sukumar Bangera and Divji from Air India, Al Khobar for their support to the mission.
Besides, the forum has also thanked the Air India management, especially CMD Thulasidas and Air India Express chief P P Singh.
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