Thursday, March 29, 2007

Sharjah- Mangalore Direct : New Destination for Air India Express

Daijiworld Media Network
Dubai, Mar 29: According to reliable information conveyed by officials to Rajesh Sequeira, Co-ordinator NRE Forum UAE, Air India Express are planning to start operating regular flights on the Sharjah-Mangalore-Mumbai route from the first week of May 2007.
During his recent visit to Mumbai, Rajesh had personally met Capt Singh and had requested for flights to Dammam, Kuwait and Sharjah andhe in turn had assured that very soon these sectors would be included in the network.
Regarding Kuwait and Dammam operations, Rajesh said he had been doing his best for operations at the earliest but since Bahrain is closer to Dammam, passengers from Dammam can utilize this sectors until Dammam sector comes into the picture.
According to the latest information available, the proposed timings of the Mumbai-Mangalore-Sharjah flight and return are as follows:
Arrival from Mumbai in Mangalore: 0615 hrs ISTDeparture from Mangalore: 0715 hrs ISTArrival in Sharjah: 0905 hours UAE timeDeparture from Sharjah: 1005 hours UAE timeArrival in Mangalore: 1515 hrs ISTDeparture for Mumbai: 1615 hrs IST
According to tentative plans, flights on this route are likely to be operated on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, effective May 1, 2007 subject to final confirmation.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Bahrain -Doha Mangalore- Live Telecast

http://www.daijiworld.com/tvdaijiworld/tvhome.asp?tv_id=237

Bahrain: Maiden Air India Express Flight Takes off to Mangalore







Ronald Dsouza and Joe Andrade BahrainDaijiworld Media Network
Bahrain, Mar 25: It’s all happening today! Thanks to airindia express! 25th march, 2007 is a red-letter day for all those who are travelling to Mangalore direct from Bahrain with the inaugural flight flagged-off by Ahmed Nemat Ali, the acting undersecretary, civil aviation affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain from the Kingdom of Bahrain’s international airport located at Muharraq Island!
In a crisp but brisk choc-o-block ceremony organised by the Kingdom of Bahrain’s civil aviation affairs authority, at the airport departure lounge premises, gate no.11, Airindia Express launched their first budget-airline flight IX-814 to Mangalore int’l airport. The auspicious occasion was conducted and organised by civil aviation affairs dignitaries in the presence of Bhatnagar, first secretary of indian embassy, Bahrain airport officials, airindia officials including D.Debesh, manager Bahrain & Jordan, Mubarak Jassim Kanoo & Fawzi Kanoo Bahrain, Air India’s sponsor and general sales agent, and many well-wishers from the indian community some of whom had come dressed in traditional indian cultural attire. Mohan Kutty, manager of general sales affairs, Kanoo Travel, co-ordinated the ceremony .
The incoming Airindia Express flight with passengers from Mumbai picked up mangalore-bound passengers from Doha int’l airport and landed at Bahrain at 1520 hours. The flight pilot captain Avinash Chikte and co-pilot captain Ramesh Kumar and air hostesses Manju Pipal and Nidhi Pandey were welcomed on arrival at the departure gate by the C.A.A. authorities, airindia officials and dignitaries. They were then traditionally given the “poorna khamba” welcome by colorfully dressed sari-clad indian ladies with the traditional kalasha and colorfully dressed little children presenting each of the dignitaries with a bouquet of flowers.
The civil aviation authority in a moving gesture, presented a memento on the occasion to Air India manager, Debesh, as well as the pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft.
Mahmood yousuf, manager public relations, civil aviation affairs compered the program and welcomed the gathering.
Ahmed Nemat ali addressed the crowd going down memory’s lane to 1932 when the first imperial airways aircraft landed in bahrain intransit to India and highlighted the fact that Air India was the second airline to land in Bahrain way back in 1960. From just one flight per week since then, it was heartining to note that airindia has increased its frequency to 11 flights today to destinations like mangalore, mumbai, cochin and calicut.
This shows the galloping bonds of friendship between the two countries, India and Bahrain over a period of time.
Ahmed Nemat ali then proceeded to cut the Air India Express inaugural cake along with Mubarak Jassim Kanoo, pilot, co-pilot and the air hostesses to the tumultous applause of the gathering..
Airindia’s manager, Debesh, took the opportunity to thank the minister of transportation & deputy prime minister, Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the C.A.A. officials, the bahrain airport service authorities, the kanoo family and all those who supported Air India Express and made it possible for launching of airindia express service on schedule. He further mentioned from the current 11 frequencies, few more would be added to new Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore after a short period.
Bhatnagar from the Indian embassy also spoke on the occasion.
The dazzling highlight of the event was a little lad, Master Takshak Pai, decked-up like the Air India Express icon “maharaja”, welcoming the august gathering and two young lads Bharath Jayakumar and Amit Anchan dressed up in typical yakshagana attire who literally otherwise stole the show inviting picturesque photo-opportunity for all who gathered on the auspicious occasion. A number of Indian dignitaries from various clubs and organisations were also invited and present on the occasion.
The nostalgia of it all could best be expressed by an octogenarian lady Carmine Coutinho popularly known in near and dear circles only as “Mamma” and still agile and quick-paced at 83 at the lounge in jubilation to have had the unique privilege to fly on this maiden flight direct to her hometown Bajpe, the airport hillock-seat of mangalore int’l airport. The co-pilot literally embraced her on being introduced to her.
The flight to Mangalore departed to Mangalore at 1630hours Bahrain time and is expected to land at Mangalore around 2200hrs.
The Indian ambassador to Bahrain, Balakrishna Shetty, who hails from Mangalore will be travelling on the inaugural flight from Mangalore to Bahrain on his return journey to Bahrain.

Doha: AI Express’ Mangalore-bound Direct Flight Touches Sky







Reena Castelino for Daijiworld Media Network - Doha


Doha, Mar 25: The first direct flight from Doha, Bahrain to Mangalore has taken off from Doha International Airport.
The direct flight was flagged off in the Doha at 2.30pm local time on Sunday, March 25.
The flight of delight finally made its way into the sky with high hopes for a hassle-free air travel between the two regions. A modest traditional inaugural ceremony was held in Doha wherein the Indian Ambassador in Doha Dr George Joseph cut the cake.
Clad in traditional Indian dance costumes (Bharatanatyam), children accorded a truly Indian honour to the first flight. Community members and representatives of different communities were present for the function. The Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC) was represented by Rocky Fernandes who is also the vice-president of ICC.
Thirtyone passengers have boarded the flight to Mangalore. M S Abdul Salam from Managudde, the first male passenger to check in receiving the boarding pass from the Indian Ambassador. Salam said he was very happy to travel and deemed it a privilege to be on the maiden direct flight. He also said that he had postponed his travel to Mangalore as he wanted to travel on the maiden flight.
At the Doha International Airport, a festive mood was seen. Mangalore-bound passengers were seen eager to step into the maiden direct flight to Mangalore.
People were seen greeting each other as this was a long cherish dream and had finally taken shape. Indeed a red lettered day, the direct flight from the shores of Doha Bahrain has become a milestone in the history of Air India service in the Middle East.
The Andrade family from Ferrar was the first family to check in. Residing in Qatar for the past 10 years the family said that it was a proud moment for all the Mangaloreans.
Seetharam Shetty from Boloor who is residing in Qatar for the past 15 years said that the travel was a dream come true as he can travel to his hometown directly.
The Mendonca family was the first to purchase the tickets from Doha. Brothers Kanar Vishwanath and Jayaram Kadri the owners of the famous Akshaya and Canara Jewellary in Doha also traveled in the direct flight to Mangalore.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Air India Express Set for Maiden Flight to Mangalore on Mar 25




By Ronald D’Souza and Joe Andradefor Daijiworld Media Network
Bahrain, Mar 22: The stage is almost set for Air India Express in Bahrain to flag in and flag off on its inaugural flight to Bahrain on March 25, 2007.
The dream of many an Indian to fly from Bahrain to Mangalore and vice versa from this day will create history.
It will be a day when the Air India Express service to Mangalore from the shores of Bahrain would be made possible on an e-ticket that’s only a sheet of paper giving flight details and confirmation.
Air India Express has gone on-line from March 19, 2007, and air tickets can be booked and confirmed direct on internet when all details are provided.
At the Air India office in Bahrain on Tuesday morning, online e-ticketing training was given to Air India reservations and counter staff and some leading travel agents' representatives on the e-ticket bookings and the modalities of purchase at the Kanoo head office by Air India Express Dubai marketing manager Alka Arora and district sales manager Shankar.
Now on, e-tickets can be purchased from some travel agents directly. Air India manager for Bahrain and Jordan D Debesh and GSA manager for airlines at Kanoo Travel Mohan Kutty were also present during the training session. The briefing concluded with a lunch hosted by Air India Express for all the participants.
All details relevant to the travel and pricing are given online and should passengers need further assistance Air India Express offices or travel agents could be contacted.
“The introduction of Air India Express service will be a milestone in the history of Air India service in the Middle East,” said Debesh, adding that a modest traditional inaugural ceremony was being planned to make the inaugural flight memorable in the presence of various dignitaries and Bahrain civil aviation personnel.
Indian Ambassador to Bahrain Balakrishna Shetty, who is currently on an official visit to India in connection with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Crown Prince's visit, is also expected to travel on the inaugural flight boarding from Mangalore airport back to Bahrain on the March 25, 2007.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Book your Ticket Online : Air India Express Opens Doha-Bah-M'lore Bookings

Doha, Mar 18: As firmly announced on daijiworld.com yesterday, with a view to linking another two destinations in the Gulf with Mangalore direct, Air India Express has now announced online booking for Doha-Bahrain-Mangalore flights.
In an official release to daijiworld.com, it said that now passengers can book their tickets through www.airindiaexpress.in by paying through credit card.
Due to some technical problems outbound online booking is still not open. It will be available on Monday. However, booking from Mangalore to Bahrain and Doha can be booked online.

After UAE and Oman, Doha and Bahrain will be the third and fourth direct destinations connected to Mangalore.
Upon authentic information from Air India, Reena Castelino, official correspondent of daijiworld.com in Doha, contacted some prominent community leaders and long-time residents of Doha, originally hailing from Mangalore.
Their response was proof to the fact that everyone has been eagerly waiting for this opportunity to travel to Mangalore direct