Air India Express Announces New Flight Timings for Dubai - Mangalore Sector

Daijiworld Media Network
Mangalore, Dec 10: As announced on daijiworld.com last month, the flight timings of Dubai - Mangalore route have been changed effective January 12, 2009Air India Express, in an official communiqué to daijiworld.com informed that as per the new schedule the flight from Dubai will now leave at 1.05am UAE time and reach Mangalore airport around 6.00 am IST.
The flight from Mangalore will depart at 9.30 pm and is expected to arrive at Dubai airport around 11.30 pm.
New timings will come as a boost to the business community as the entire day at both the destinations can be fully utilized for business or leisure purposes.
Similarly, as announced on daijiworld.com recently with effect from Jan 8, 2009 Kuwait will have a direct flight departing Mangalore 08.45pm and arrival Kuwait at 11.15pm
Departure from Kuwait is at 00.30 am and Arrival at Mangalore 07.30am
Mangalore - Sharjah flight will be delinked due to direct flight operations with effect from Jan 8, 2009

Air India Express Plans Kuwait - Mangalore Non-stop Flights

Air India Express Plans Kuwait - Mangalore Non-stop Flights
Media Release

Kuwait, Nov 24: Four months after the successful operation of Kuwait - Mangalore direct flight via Sharjah, Air India Express is now planning a non-stop flight from Kuwait to Mangalore.
Pascal Pinto, who was one of the persons behind the effort , told that Air India Express is seriously planning on this , but no final confirmation has yet been received.
"If all goes well, we will have non-stop flights to Mangalore from the first week of January 2009" he said
Earlier, on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 The Kuwait Konkans on behalf of the Mangalorean community in Kuwait held a special event to felicitate Country manager Air India Kuwait Krishen .C. Bhar and presented a memento as token of appreciation for starting direct flight to Mangalore from Kuwait.
Their long awaited dream turned into reality on 17th of July 2008 when the first flight took off from Kuwait International Airport for Bajpe international airport Mangalore
The Manglorean community comprises luminaries like Lawrence D'souza managing director of Caesars Group, Pascal B. Pinto social worker and considered a strong pillar of the Mangalorean Community in Kuwait , Archie Menezes, Adrian Gomes and many other prominent People from Karnataka
Speaking at the occasion, Pascal Pinto appreciated the efforts of Air India and its dedicated staff who are always eager to assist and help the community at all time. Pinto thanked the Air India Manager and all those involved in putting Mangalore destination on the radar of Air India Express.
Pascal also suggested that renewed efforts must be initiated to make journey pleasant like in-flight service, improvement in the field of food, crew to be well polished and be polite to the passengers.
The community also asked the Air India management to curtail fare as they are sky rocketing. The manager acknowledged and assured Pinto that his views were noted and prompt action would be taken to improve and implement them.
Also speaking at the event Lawrence D'souza in his short speech thanked Air India Manager and the staff for their generosity, support and co-operation extended to them always.
K.C.Bhar Air India Manager, thanked the community and expressed happiness that the relations between the community and the airlines were friendly. He said it was a great achievement for the airline and the community to live in harmony.
Bhar disclosed that Air India Express will fly direct flights to Mangalore from Kuwait without breaking the journey in Sharjah. The disclosure brought surprise waves among the community and their excitement had no boundaries.
Bhar assured the community that the Airlines will work closely with the community and look after their problem. As the community looks forward for the first direct flight to take off from Kuwait to Mangalore in January, the Airline is already taking full load as the Christmas season is around the corner.
Also see:

Mangalore: Bajpe Airport Authority Seeks Possession of ZP Roads

Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)
Mangalore, Nov 7: M R Vasudev, director, Airport Authority of India (AAI), Mangalore, has urged Shobha Karandlaje, state minister of rural development and Panchayat Raj, to hand over to AAI the possession of zilla panchayat (ZP) roads at the existing main entrance of the airport and upcoming international terminal at Deccan Park, Kenjar, Malavoor village. The minister has directed the concerned officials to expedite the procedures involved in this. AAI proposes to develop the infrastructure so as to connect the existing terminal and the international terminal before the official commissioning of the latter in March 2009. .

Mangalore: Flights to Bangalore Reduced to Three

Raviprasad Kamila/The Hindu
Fewer people are opting for flights
The move is stated to be temporary
Services to be restored from November 16
Mangalore, Oct 29: The number of daily flights between Mangalore and Bangalore has come down by 50 per cent in the past ten days. It appears to be the result of the proposed alliance between Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways.
The two airline companies were operating six daily flights from Mangalore to Bangalore.
The number has now been reduced to three flights a day. According to a Jet Airways official, it will replace its larger aircraft operating between the two cities with smaller ones by November 16.
M.R. Vasudeva, director, Mangalore Airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), told The Hindu that Kingfisher Airlines had withdrawn two flights while Jet Airways had withdrawn one. The Kingfisher Airlines had withdrawn the flights departing at 10.20 a.m. and 9.30 p.m. from here to Bangalore. Jet Airways had withdrawn its flight departing to Bangalore at 7.40 p.m.

"Temporary"
However, Pramod Nair, station manager, Jet Airways, Mangalore Airport, is understood to have informed the AAI that the withdrawal of its evening flight was for a short period between October 20 and October 31 due to commercial reasons.
He told The Hindu that the company had temporarily suspended its evening Boeing 737 flight. “It will remain suspended till November 15 and not till October 31 as planned earlier. It will be re-introduced from November 16. However, the Boeing 737 will be replaced with an ATR aircraft,” he said.

Existing flights
Mr. Vasudeva said that at present the airport was handling three flights between the two cities.
Of them, Kingfisher Airlines was operating two and Jet Airways one. The first flight of Kingfisher Airlines arrived here at 8.30 a.m. and departed at 9 a.m. The Jet Airways flight arrived at 9.05 a.m. and departed at 9.40 a.m. The last flight of Kingfisher Airlines arrived at 6.30 p.m. and departed at 7 p.m.
Mr. Nair said that Jet Airways would suspend its morning flight, also a Boeing 737, from November 1 to November 15. “We will re-introduce the service from November 16 with an ATR aircraft,” he said. Hence Jet Airways will operate only one ATR aircraft between the two cities.

Load factor
He said that Jet Airways was shifting to smaller aircraft considering the load and better yield factors. The passenger traffic between the two cities had declined this year, he said.
Mr. Vasudeva said that the four flights between Mumbai and Mangalore had not been disturbed.
The director said that Air India Express, which operates flights to five West Asian countries from here, had proposed to change the schedules of some of its services for the winter season. It had not said anything about reducing the number of its flights, he said. Sources in the airport said that the air fare between Mangalore and Bangalore had gone up recently. The operators were charging Rs. 8,000, and sometimes more, as one-way fare. There was a concession for tickets booked in advance, though, the sources said.

Terminal building likely to be ready by March

Staff Correspondent The Hindu

65 per cent of construction work is said to have been completed

MANGALORE: The construction of the new integrated terminal building at Mangalore Airport may be completed by March next, according to Oscar Fernandes, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
Speaking to presspersons after inspecting the project site at Kenjar near the airport, he said 65 per cent of the work had been completed. It was scheduled for completion by March, 2009. The officials at the airport were hopeful of completing the work ahead of schedule, he said.
Mr. Fernandes said that if Mangalore airport was to be declared an international airport, it had to meet certain requirements for it. The terminal building taken up by the Union Government was part of those requirements, he said.
On the transfer of M.R. Vasudeva from Mangalore airport to Coimbatore airport on promotion as a director, at a juncture when the construction work was half way through, the Minister said: “He has been promoted based on seniority. His contribution to Mangalore airport has been identified.”
Asked if the director would be retained here till the terminal building was completed and commissioned, Mr. Fernandes said it was an administrative matter. “I have spoken to people concerned. Let us see how it works,” he said.

Mangalore Airport Director Promoted as GM of Coimbatore Airport

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 27: Though it is a perfect tribute to a man who is largely responsbile for upgrading the Mangalore airport to international level and putting in mammoth efforts for the setting up of the up-coming new airport terminal, it is a matter of disappointment for all the fans of M R Vasudeva, to know that they will be missing his services.
Daijiworld had earlier learnt, that he had been promoted as general manager and posted to Coimbatore international airport, and today, union minister Oscar Fernandes admitted at a press conference, that the airport director M R Vasudev has been transferred, just when the expansion project of the airport is on the verge of completion. He also added, that it was a promotion Vasudev richly deserved for his contribution to the development of this airport. He can be brought back at Mangalore airport once it is declared as an international airport, he explained.
Karnataka NRI forum, headed and founded by Rajesh Sequeira in Dubai, has arleady requested the Airports Authority of India to retain him in Mangalore airport in the promoted status, at least until the new terminal work is completed.
Terminal Will be Ready Soon: Oscar Fernandes
Oscar Fernandes, union minister for labour and employment, said that the new terminal building at the Mangalore airport will be ready soon, as the work pertaining to the foundation has already been completed.
Addressing the media after inspecting the ongoing work on Saturday September 27, Fernandes said, the airport would be declared international, as soon as the work is completed. He added, that 65 per cent of the work has been completed as of now and the remaining 35 per cent would be completed within a few days.
Expressing satisfaction at the progress of the work, Fernandes said, "I am very happy to watch the brisk progress of the work. The work will have to be speeded up further, for the early completion of the project. I thank the NRIs and even localites for showing an interest in having a new terminal for the Mangalore airport".

Appeal to Minister to let Director of Mangalore airport continue

Staff Correspondent The Hindu
MANGALORE: Karnataka NRI Forum, United Arab Emirates, has appealed to Praful Patel, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, to let M.R. Vasudeva, Director of Mangalore airport, continue in the post here till the new integrated terminal building which is under construction is commissioned.
It has requested the Minister not to transfer Mr. Vasudeva as Director of Coimbatore Airport till then.Letter
In a letter to the Minister on September 23, a copy of which was released to the press, Rajesh Sequeira, coordinator of the forum, said: “…The news of him being transferred in the midst of a very strategic project is disheartening…”
“As the project is nearing completion and Mr. Vasudeva has been an integral part of it right from the start, it would be better if he is retained in Mangalore till the new integrated terminal is commissioned,” it said.

Mangalore: Airport Affected People Take Out Protest March

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Sep 10: Villagers of Malavoor, Kenjar and Adyapady took out a huge protest march on Monday September 8, protesting against the failure of the concerned in not properly re-habilitating them, after taking over their lands for the airport expansion.
The protest was led by the Dakshina Kannada District Dalit Sangharsh Samiti(DSS). The protestors came walking in a procession from Muranagar Junction and held a protest meeting at the airport gate.
The protestors said, that the district administration, central government, state government and the Airports Authority of India who took over their lands for upgrading the airport to the international standards, have forgotten about their sacrifice. These people are living under inhuman conditions now. They were paid only Rs 250 per cent of land, they said. The concerned including the deputy commissioner have been doling out promises of meeting our demands, since the last six to seven years. None of the promises have been fulfilled, they rued.
DSS state secretary M Devadas, district convenor Sundar Salian, stany Rodrigues etc., addressed the protestors, who numbered around 250.

From a scrubby airstrip to an international airport

Sudipto Mondal The Hindu

‘Years ago, it was only a clearing amidst palm trees’
The infrastructure development has kept pace with airline revolution, says a traveller
According to a businessman, its contribution to city’s economy is enormous
MANGALORE: Eulalia D’Souza (45) knows the Mangalore Airport since the time it was a scrubby airstrip. She has witnessed its growth into an “airfield” and then into a full-fledged airport from the time she was just a little girl waving excitedly at the occasional planes that landed there to an independent career woman, who flies as frequently by the aeroplanes as she undertakes shopping.
Ms. D’Souza, who is now the chairperson of the Tourism Sub-Committee (Airlines) of the Kanara Chambers of Commerce and Industry, has managed to preserve vivid memories of how the airport was like and its metamorphosis into its present status of an airport. “As a child I used to often accompany the elders to see off or receive a relative at the airport. In those days, it was nothing more than a clearing in the palm trees,” she said. Early days
According to her, there was nothing to deter people from walking onto the tarmac apart from the fear of being run down by a plane. “There was no wall and not a barricade either,” she said. Apart from a sleepy guard, who would occasionally shoo away children and animals straying on the tarmac, the place was a “yes thoroughfare”. “Those were the days when it was called the table-top airport.” Change
But times have changed and the airport is now being seen as a symbol of the region’s coming of age. “The growth of the airport has mirrored the economic growth of the region and its people,” said General Manager of Corporation Bank B.R. Bhat. More Mangaloreans have taken off in the last decade than ever before.
“But what is significant is the number of people that have flown into the city, bringing along with them, business opportunity and prosperity,” he said.
According to Mr. Bhat, the infrastructure at the airport has kept pace with the airline revolution of the last decade. “In the end, it benefited not only fliers but also the local economy,” he said. Economic advantage
Mohammed Eshaque, proprietor of “Bamson”, a tourism company that owns 12 cabs, said: “Ten years ago, we started with one car and today we have a fleet of 12 besides another 12 cars attached to us. If it were not for the airport, this would never have happened.”
According to Mr. Mohammed, the largest chunk of his business comes from the corporate sector. “In a day, we make at least 20 trips to the airport and back.
While we get several long distance trips too, travelling to the airport is the staple source of revenue,” he said. Carlton Misquith (25), a non-resident Indian, who has been flying into the city since his childhood, however, counts on a few problems with the airport.
“I know it is unfair to compare it to Heathrow or even the Delhi airport, but the infrastructure can be much better,” he said through an e-mail. According to him, the passenger waiting area, hospitality and the appearance of the airport, needed to be improved. Picturesque
However, he feels that the Mangalore Airport is one of the most picturesque in the world.
“One look at the airport after you are airborne makes you forget all the problems you face when you are down there,” he said.

AAI to extend new runway at Bajpe

Raviprasad Kamila The Hindu

It will help in handling operations of larger aircraft at the airport
Bajpe airport now handles aircraft with a seating capacity of 186
Concrete runway will be extended to a length of 2. 8 km
MANGALORE: Mangalore Airport is all set to prepare itself to receive larger aircraft by late next year. It will even be able to handle Boeing 747 with limited load.
The airport, which handles aircraft with seating capacity of 186 at present will be able to handle aircraft with 300 seats.
To facilitate this, the Airports Authority of India (AAI ) has allowed the airport to extend the length of the new concrete runway.
The airport at Bajpe has two runways.
The old bituminous (tar) runway having a length of 1.6 km and the new concrete runway with a length of 2.4 km.
Director of the airport M.R. Vasudeva told The Hindu that the AAI had approved the extension of the concrete runway by 350 metres. It will be extended on both the sides to take its length to 2.8 km. A tender would be called within a fortnight.Work
The work will begin in November or December and will be completed in 2009. After due inspection by the AAI authorities concerned and trial runs, larger aircraft will be allowed to land and take off from it.
By late next year, the extended portion of the runway could be put into use. He said that no private land need to be acquired to extend the runway. Mr. Vasudeva said that once the extended portion was ready, Boeing 767 aircraft can operate with full load. “Airbus 330 aircraft can also operate,” he said.
However, Boeing 747 can operate with a “restricted load” up to a maximum of 330 tonnes.
If it is to operate with its full loading capacity of 370 tonnes, the airport should have a runway of 3 km. Mr. Vasudeva said that presently aircraft such as Boeing 737-800, Airbus 321, Airbus 319 and Airbus 320 land at the airport.
He said that once the length of the runway was extended, airlines could operate larger aircraft having more seating capacity especially to West Asian countries.
The airport has flight service to five West Asian countries. Presently Air India Express, budget airlines of the Air India, operates all flights between Mangalore and West Asian airports.
Chellam Prasad, Station Manager, Air India, Mangalore airport, said that if the runway was extended, then Air India could examine operating larger aircraft to West Asian countries.
Pramod Nair, Station Manager, Jet Airways, Mangalore Airport, said that the total number of seats in Boeings 767 and 747 and Airbus varied depending on the number of business and economy class seat ratio.

Bajpe airport ranks among the best in the country

Raviprasad Kamila The Hindu

It secured 86 per cent marks for customer satisfaction among the 25 airports surveyed in March this year
Established in 1951, it has grown tremendously in the last 10 years: official
Mangalore airport was credited with ISO 14,001 certification in 2006

MANGALORE: Once neglected as a “table-top airport”, the Mangalore airport is now counted among the most sought after airports in the country for the infrastructure it has developed. It has certainly given Mangalore a pride of place.
The airport at Bajpe securing 86 per cent “customer satisfaction” score in a recent national survey that covered 25 domestic airports is probably indicative of its growth. The survey undertaken by Spectrum Planning (India) Ltd for the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in February-March this year revealed that only Jammu airport could match Bajpe airport on customers’ satisfaction.
From handling 56 flights a week in 2005, the airport has come a long way. It now handles 280 flights a week – a five fold increase in a short span.Over 50-years old
Although the Mangalore airport was opened in December, 1951 it had remained dormant for several years. It came to limelight about three years ago, after the construction of a new concrete runway was taken up. Other infrastructure and commercial facilities were added subsequently. The airport witnessed a rapid growth after M.R. Vasudeva took over its reins as the director in 2004, according to Rajesh Sequeira, co-ordinator, Karnataka NRI Forum, U.A.E. “The NRIs in West Asia, particularly Dubai, will never forget October 3, 2006, when a passenger flight from Dubai landed at Mangalore airport for the first time,” he said. “The main beneficiaries of the airport are the NRIs of Mangalore and North Kerala origin residing in different countries of West Asia,” he said. According to him, the NRIs now need not fly to West Asian countries via Mumbai. “We can save money and time,” he said and added, “without sacrificing comfort and convenience”. On his part, Mr. Vasudeva attributes the growth of the airport to financial and administrative support given by K. Ramalingam, Chairman, AAI. Evolution
The director said that the AAI deposited Rs. 50 lakh with the State Government in March, 1989 for handing over 186 acre for the construction of new concrete runway and terminal building. The State handed over the land for the runway in September, 2003 after a gap of 14 years. The construction of 2.4-km-long new concrete runway began in April, 2004 and completed in March, 2006. This is in addition to the old 1.6-km-long tar runway. Mr. Vasudeva said that although the State Government handed over the land records, not all the 208 project-affected families had vacated their lands. The airport authorities had to convince people to vacate their land. In addition, the AAI had to face opposition from the Vimana Nildana Vistarana Virodhi Samiti, a forum of people, who opposed the expansion of the airport. “The real challenge was in shifting a church, a mosque and a “daivasthana”, a place of spirit-worship, from Adyapady village for constructing the new runway,” he recalled.
Construction of the new air-conditioned arrival hall to accommodate 250 passengers at a time, expansion of departure hall to accommodate even number of passengers, setting up of visitors’ gallery and anti-hijacking room, strengthening the apron, the parking stand for aircraft, to enable parking of four aircraft at a time, constructing a parallel taxi-way connecting two runways, opening a restaurant, providing two security hold areas to make passengers rest after checking in, are some of the other projects completed after 2005. In addition, the area control centre of the airport extended its air traffic services to over flying aircrafts from 13 hours to 24 hours. This helped pilots flying approximately 200 nautical miles of airspace from the centre of Mangalore Area Control Centre to get clear instructions for safe navigation to avoid collision. The airspace comprised parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra.
The AAI changed its Instrument Landing System (ILS) from offset ILS to category I-ILS for safe landing of aircraft during rainy season, cloudy weather and night time. A high-frequency radar was commissioned at the airport. Opening of two currency exchange counters, duty-free shops, ATM and a bank branch, a mini area traffic control tower, barracks for CISF personnel, quarters for employees are some of the other developments that have taken place at the airport.
The airport built a 8.5-km perimeter road around it to enable vehicles to reach any part of the airport premises at any time of emergency. A compound wall was also built.
The airport obtained ISO 9001 certification in 2004 for quality management system and ISO 14,001 certification in 2006 for environment management system. Passenger traffic
The Union Government declared the airport as a Customs airport in 2006.
The passenger traffic at the airport increased from 2.2 lakh in 1998 to 6.7 lakh in 2007.New terminal building
The new terminal building at Kenjar is coming up with associated amenities at an estimated cost of Rs. 147 crore. There will be two aero bridges, five parking stands, separate arrival and departure halls and other mandatory facilities there. It is expected to be completed by this year-end, Mr. Vasudeva said.

Jet Airways Launches Mangalore - Dubai Through Check in Flight Via Mumbai

Media Release
Mangalore, Aug 24: Jet Airways have successfully launched flights to Muscat, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi from India and have now extended their services to Dubai from Mumbai and New Delhi from 23AUG 08. Now passengers can fly out from Mangalore to Dubai Via Mumbai. Jet Airways offers a through check in facility and a convenient transfer with minimum connecting time at Mumbai making travel hassle free.

Schedule

9W432 Dep Mangalore 1505hrs Arr Mumbai 1620hrs

9W544 Dep Mumbai 1840hrs Arr Dubai 2015hrs
The inaugural flight to Dubai was inaugurated with passengers and agents at Mangalore airport on 23 August.M R Vasudev ,Airport Director ,Mangalore Airport , cut the cake and released the first boarding card for the Mangalore Dubai flight via Mumbai.

Dubai: Jet Airways Plans to Introduce Gulf-Mangalore Direct Flights - Naresh Goel

by Sujay BendurDaijiworld Media Network—Dubai (CN)
Dubai, Aug 18: Naresh Goel, chairman, Jet Airways, on Sunday, August 17, announced the starting of a direct flight from Dubai to Mumbai and Delhi. With this, the prospects of a private airline flying to Mangalore from the Gulf region is getting brigther. Jet Airways is already laying the required ground work.
Speaking on the issue with Rajesh Sequiera, co-ordinator, Karnataka NRI Forum, Goel remarked that Mangalore is a very important destination and the airlines is planning to connect Mangalore internationally. He said that with the support of Mangaloreans, Jet Airways should be able to achieve this very soon.
Goel also informed that Jet Airways is planning to fly between Jeddah and Mumbai as well as Riyadh and Mumbai in the coming months. Speaking to Daijiworld, Shakir Kantawala, regional manager, Jet Airways, said that till direct flights begin passenger can use the through check-in and throughfares to Mangalore.

The airlines daily flights from Dubai, the airlines twentieth international destination, to Mumbai and Delhi, will begin on Saturday, August 23. Dubai will be the sixth destination in the airlines Gulf network and the second in the UAE. Jet Airways Dubai flights will complement the airlines daily services to Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, and Doha, from various points in India.
Jet Airways will deploy its dual-class, state-of-the-art Airbus 330-200 aircraft on these routes, featuring its acclaimed herringbone-configured Première, and its spacious new economy class. On the Mumbai-Dubai sector, flight 9W 544 will depart Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 1840 hrs and will arrive at Dubai International Airport at 2015 hrs. On the return leg, flight 9W 543 will depart Dubai International Airport at 2145 hrs and will arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai at 0215 hrs.
On the Delhi-Dubai sector, flight 9W 548 will depart Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1840 hrs and will arrive at Dubai International Airport at 2025 hrs. On the return leg, flight 9W 547 will depart Dubai International Airport at 2255 hrs and will arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at 0335 hrs.
To commemorate its maiden foray into Dubai, the airline has introduced special return economy class fares on its first three flights only, at AED 860 net, inclusive of taxes, and return première fares of AED 2,200 inclusive of taxes, on its services to Dubai, from Mumbai and New Delhi. After the promotional period, the economy fares start at AED 820 (return) and premiere fares at AED 2,200 (return), excluding taxes.
Besides Goel, Gaurang Shetty, vice-president alliances and interline affairs, Shakir Kantawala, and Abraham Joseph, senior general manager, Jet Airways, were present at the press meet.

Mangalore: Workshop on Airport Security, Immigration Law Inaugurated

Pics: Dayanand KukkajeDaijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (CN)

Mangalore, Aug 18: A three-day workshop on ‘Immigration Law and Airport Security’, for police personnel, was inaugurated in the city on Monday August 18, by Satheesh Kumar, DK superintendent of police.
He said that police security will be strengthened at the airport and the port. A proposal has been sent to the state government requesting appointment of additional staff to strengthen security in these areas, added the policeman.
Since the number of international passengers at the city airport has increased, the need for tighter security has risen accordingly. The police department has taken this issue seriously, added Satheesh Kumar.
Prasad Rane, in-charge, fraud and forgery prevention in Air India Express and Harbhajan Singh of Bombay immigration bureau, were present on the dais.
Dharmaiah, deputy superintendent of police, welcomed the gathering. Manjunath Shetty proposed the vote of thanks. Harishchandra, deputy superintendent of police, compered the programme.

Riyadh: KWAR Appeals Indian Ambassador for Direct Flight to Mangalore

News and Pics by P A Hameed Padubidrifor Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh (GA)

Riyadh, Aug 12: One more milestone has been achieved by Karavali Welfare Association-Riyadh (KWAR) as its four-member delegation recently met the Indian Ambassador M O H Farooq at his office in Indian Embassy in Riyadh. The delegation consisting of KWAR president Vijay Rai, vice-president Khasim Ahmed, joint secretary Parvez Ali and coordinator Rajesh, elucidated the purpose behind the formation of KWAR in Riyadh in particular and in the Kingdom in general, and shed a light on the grievances being faced by Mangaloreans in the Kingdom including the non-availability of direct flight to Mangalore. A memorandum was also submitted to the Ambassador requesting him to recommend for having the necessary facilities including the direct international flight from Saudi Arabia to Mangalore.
“The meeting with the Ambassador really etched in our mind as he showed his humane gesture towards us and his interest to know the culture and even grumbles of Mangaloreans; he promised that he will have a look at the memorandum and consider it on priority to get it realized including the recommendation for the direct flight to Mangalore,” the delegation said in elation.
Karavali Welfare Association Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (KWAR) is a non-profit voluntary Organization formed with broad objective of doing across-the-board social and community services particularly to the people of Mangalore in and outside the Kingdom.
The Association comprised of non-residents of the coastal region of Karnataka State, who strongly believe in unity and equality in all respects. The people of this part were deprived of various facilities and benefits and their assorted grievances were not properly addressed only because of non-availability of a suitable voice to represent them. Knowing the big vacuum, the people of different communities of this locale in Riyadh came together with common understanding under a common platform and shaped up the said Association by setting it in motion to implement its constructive objectives step-by-step. Initially a campaign for requesting direct flight link between Riyadh and Mangalore was taken up by the association. Its future plans will take account of organizing cultural, educational, personality development and charity raising programmes including setting up a job link for its members and others alike.
“The meeting has boosted up our morale to accelerate our pace and we are confident that our request will definitely be given a high priority and our dream of the direct flight from Riyadh to Mangalore will not be remote” both the president and vice-president of KWAR said while speaking to the Daijiworld Correspondent.

Mangalore Airport New Terminal Ready in 6 Months: Yeddyurappa

DHNS

MangalorePics: Dayananda Kukkaje

Mangalore, Aug 3: Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has stated that the new terminal building at the Mangalore airport will be completed within six months, making it a full-fledged international airport. Addressing journalists after inspecting the ongoing project during his maiden visit to the district as a chief minister on Saturday, he said a meeting of Revenue and other officials would be convened soon in Bangalore in order to discuss the issues regarding land acquisition for the completion of the said project.
Investors’ meet
The Chief Minister said the government would be hosting a global investors’ meet in the State capital soon in order to attract more foreign investors to Karnataka.“It is with the same purpose, a NRI Cell has been constituted in the State headed by MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik. A separate panel of industrialists is also being sent to the AKKA conference to be held in America,” Mr Yeddyurappa noted.
After Bangalore, it is Mangalore that is attracting the attention of investors from all over the world in the recent years, he said adding that he had given instructions to all the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to provide a convenient atmosphere for them.
Coastal belt has abundant scope to develop tourism, and hence plans are there to tap these opportunities with public-private-partnership, he said.

Tackling terrorism
Answering a query, the CM said the government had taken stringent steps to tackle terrorism and Naxal menace across the State, including strengthening the coastal security. He brushed aside complaints that security has not got proper attention in the coastal districts.
Terrorists cannot function unless they get local support. Preventing and mitigating terrorism is in the hands of the public, he observed, appealing for their co-operation and support.
Progress review
Yeddyurappa who had conducted a meeting of all deputy commissioners and ZP chief executive officers in Bangalore earlier in the morning, said, such meetings would be a held once-in-three months.
He said the government aimed at getting airports for all district centres within the next two years. All DCs have been asked to identify 100 acres in their district and come up with proposals in the next 20 days, the chief minister said.
Home Minister Dr V S Acharya, District-in-Charge Minister J Krishna Palemar, Housing and Muzrai Minister Krishnaiah Setty, Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda, BJP State President D V Sadananda Gowda among others were present on the occasion.

Mangalore: Bajpe international Airport Gets Additional Baggage X-Ray Facility

Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN) Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Mangalore, Jul 29: The additional baggage x-ray facility installed at Bajpe international airport was inaugurated by deputy commissioner (DC) Maheshwar Rao, on Tuesday, July 29.
The earlier baggage x-ray facility was installed in the departure and arrival lounge and was inaugurated by Dr Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmastala Manjunatheshwar, a few days ago.
The additional x-ray has been installed to speed up screening of baggage after the increase in the number domestic and international flights in recent times. Moreover, till the exclusive international terminus becomes operational in 2009 at Kenjar, near Maravoor, these additional facilities will benefit the passengers.
M R Vasudev, airport director, Chellamprasad, Mangalore chief, Air India Express (AIE), Nagesh Shetty, Mangalore chief of Indian, officers of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), AIE, and staff of private airlines were present on the occasion.

Mangalore airport tops satisfaction survey

GEARING UP: A file photo of M.R. Vasudeva, director, Mangalore Airport, inspecting the progress of work on the new integrated terminal building at Bajpe Airport.

The Hindu -Raviprasad Kamila
SPIL has been conducting the six-monthly study since 2007; it is scheduled to end next year
Jammu shares the top spot with Bajpe among the 25 airports surveyed
Exercise aims at rectifying the areas of lacunae

MANGALORE: Customers have ranked Mangalore and Jammu airports high among the 25 domestic airports in the country in a customer satisfaction survey conducted recently.
Spectrum Planning (India) Ltd (SPIL) conducted the survey for the Airport Authority of India (AAI) in February and March this year. Both Mangalore and Jammu airports secured 86 per cent satisfaction score in the survey. Assignment
The executive summary of the survey says that the AAI has assigned the company to conduct four rounds of survey between 2007 and 2009 with a six-month interval. The February-March 2008 survey was the third one. The company conducted the survey of 13 international airports in the country, separately. The objective of the survey is to assess the opinion of customers on the facilities and services and to identify new services and improve facilities to make the airports more customer friendly. The survey aimed at assessing the attitude of the service providers at airports, the executive summary said.Survey report
According to the survey, the overall customer satisfaction index (CSI) of Mangalore Airport at Bajpe is raising. The satisfaction score in the first round was 75 per cent, it shot up to 82 per cent in the second and 86 per cent in the third round.
The survey covered the aspects such as quality of food, car parking facility, shopping facility, behaviour of staff, general comfort, adequacy of seating arrangement, general aesthetics of airport, cleanliness, illumination, phone and banking facilities and so on. ‘Challenge’
M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport, told The Hindu: “Now the challenge is to sustain the satisfaction-level of customers.” He said that civil works of the new terminal building of the airport at Kenjar were expected to be completed by December this year. However, operations at the new terminal building could start only after March, 2009 as shifting of facilities from the existing terminal building to the new building would take some time. Progress of work
Stating that the roof of the basement and first floor at the new terminal building had been completed, he said: “At present, the roofing of the second floor and the construction of a new power sub-station near the terminal building are under way.”
Work on the apron, the parking-stand for the aircraft, taxi-way connecting the apron and the runway had been completed. The AAI had sought the State Government to hand over the State highway, that connects the Mangalore-Bajpe Road with Kenjar where the new terminal building was coming up, to it.
“If the Government hands it over to AAI, we will asphalt it and improve it.
Once the new terminal building is connected with this road, the distance between Mangalore city and the airport will be reduced by 8 km,” he said

First-aid training for Mangalore airport staff

The Hindu Staff Correspondent
MANGALORE: The Airports Authority of India in collaboration with Kasturaba Medical College organised a first-aid training programme for newly recruited fire service personnel at its airport at Bajpe here on Wednesday.
The Dharmadhikari of Srikshethra Dharmasthala, Veerendra Heggade, who inaugurated the programme, said, “In this age, everyone has to be informed about first-aid treatment. Awareness about the methods of administering first-aid can save lives. This training will be helpful for passengers in an emergency situation.”
About the Mangalore airport, he said tremendous changes had taken place in the past four years and the services there had improved. A friendly approach on the part of airport personnel had made air travellers appreciate their efforts. He hoped Mangalore would be recognised at the international level soon. He also inaugurated a newly introduced X-ray baggage machine. First-aid trainer Ambareesh, who works as an anaesthesiologist at Kasturba Medical College Hospital here, said awareness about first-aid in India was on the wane and every person should know its basics. In times of danger, only proper training could help save lives.
Station Manager of Air India, Mangalore, Chellam Prasad was present.

AIE exploring possibilities of operating flights to Riyadh, Dammam

ARTISTIC: M.R. Vasudeva (right), director, Airport Authority of India, Chellam Prasad, (left), Station Manager of Air India, and Ratan Bali (second from left), deputy regional director, Air India, Mumbai, watch the Yakshagana being performed at the launching ceremony of a first flight to Sharjah at Bajpe aiport in Mangalore on Thursday.

Staff Correspondent
Yakshagana show marks the launch of Kozhikode-Mangalore-Sharjah service at Bajpe aiport
AIE will add six aircraft to its present fleet of 19 in a year, says official
The new flight service reduces journey time to the two cities by six hours

MANGALORE: The Air India Express (AIE), budget airliner of Air India, is exploring the possibilities of connecting Mangalore with Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, Ratan Bali, Deputy Regional Director, Air India, Mumbai, said here on Thursday.
He was speaking to presspersons at Mangalore airport on the sidelines of a function to launch an Air India Express flight from Kozhikode to Sharajah and Kuwait, via Mangalore on Thursday.
He said, at present, the AIE had 19 aircraft and was planning to add six more to it by October, 2009.
“We will establish connectivity to more destinations when the aircraft arrive. Operating flights to Riyadh and Dammam is in our agenda,” he said. Mr. Bali said that AIE would operate a flight service between Kolkatta and Dhaka from July 20.
Asked if Air India had plans to have its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) station at Mangalore, he said: “If the situation warrants, we will look into it.” The mood at the Bajpe airport on Thursday was upbeat as the number of West Asian cities having flight connection with Mangalore rose to seven. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) staff at the airport, members of airlines and passengers came together to celebrate the event.
Yakshagana artistes, Sanjaya Kumar and his Padubidri-based troupe, performed Yakshagana for a while at the departure hall. The beatings of “chende” , “mrudanga” and “charka tala” reverberated the airport. The artistes staged scenes from “Mahishasura Vadhe” and “Shakata Vadhe” episodes.
M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport, Chellam Prasad, station manager, Air India- Mangalore and Mr. Bali cut a cake to mark the inauguration of the first flight to Sharjah and Kuwait.
According to Ms. Prasad, 87 passengers travelled in the inaugural flight on Thursday. Of them, 32 were bound for Sharjah and the rest for Kuwait. The flight arrived at Bajpe airport from Kozhikode at 6.05 p.m. and departed to Sharajah at 7.40 p.m. It would arrive here from Sharjah at 8.30 a.m. and depart to Sharjah at 9.20 a.m. on Friday. For the incoming flight, 137 seats had been booked from Kuwait and 18 from Sharajah, she said.
Lancy D’Souza of Kinnigoli, who works in Kuwait, said that a passenger flying from Mangalore to Kuwait would now save eight hours of journey. Earlier, he and his family members, had to go to Mumbai to take flights to Sharjah and Kuwait. He claimed that he was working in Kuwait for the past 30 years. He was spending Rs. 21,000 for one-way journey to Kuwait from Mangalore via Mumbai. Now he had paid Rs. 9,600 to reach Kuwait.
He said that during his 30 years of travel, he had never seen such grand celebrations at the airport.
Gracy Monterio of Jeppu said that she was travelling to Kuwait by Thursday’s flight for the first time to join her family. Jane Fernandes of Gangolli and Sushma Dinesh of Nitte were also travelling to Kuwait for the first time.
Rajesh Sequeira, co-ordinator, Karnataka NRI Forum, UAE, was present on the occasion.

Bajpe airport likely to start handling cargo operations soon

Raviprasad Kamila for The Hindu

Union Government has issued a notification in this regard Surathkal and Gurupura hoblis have been declared as ‘to be a warehousing station’Airport to have duty-free shops within a week

MANGALORE: The Union Government has issued a notification which will likely enable Bajpe (Mangalore) airport of the Airports Authority of India to handle cargo operations soon.
Official sources here have viewed this as a first step in realising the long-pending dream of the region.
The airport will have two duty-free shops within a week, as a result of the notification which is awaiting publication in the Gazette of India Extraordinary.
Air commuters will be able to buy imported goods such as liquor, tobacco, perfume, cosmetics, camera, watches, soft drinks, food products, pens and toys from the shops.
The airport authorities have been seeking permission to start cargo operations and establish duty-free shops for a long time.
Cargo operations are expected to improve the airport’s revenue, besides benefiting exporters and importers of the region and northern parts of Kerala. Notification
The notification, issued by Heera Radhakrishnan, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Karnataka, declares Surathkal and Gurupura hoblies, in which the airport is located, as “to be a warehousing station”, under Section 9 of the Customs Act, 1962, M.R. Vasudeva, Director of the airport, told The Hindu.
Sources said that based on the notification the Customs Department might issue licences for setting up private and public warehouses in the limits of these hoblis.
Section 9 of the Act says, “The Board may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare places to be warehousing stations at which alone public warehouses may be appointed and private warehouses may be licensed.”
Meanwhile, Mangalore Customs Commissionerate issued licence to Flemingo Duty Free Shop Private Ltd. on July 11 to open duty-free shops at the airport.
The shops would be opened in the international arrival hall and in the international departure hall within a week, Mr. Vasudeva added.New flight service
Mangalore will be connected to two more West Asian cities from July 17. The Air India Express will operate a flight to Sharjah and Kuwait from Thursday.
Presently, there are flight services from the city to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain and Muscat.

Kuwait : `Ready, Get Set' - AI Express Brief Media on Maiden Mangalore Flight

by Noel Cutinho, KuwaitDaijiworld Media Network - Kuwait
Kuwait, Jul 6: It is official now, Air India Express held a press conference on 5th July, at 7.50pm at Crown Plaza, Kuwait announcing the flights between Kuwait, Mangalore and Calicut. Krishan C Bhar, Country Manager (Kuwait/Cypus/Iran) of Air India Express hosted the Press Meeting along with his Air India staff Kuwait.
The Press Meeting was attended by numerous media personnel along with top officials of various associations of Karnataka and Kerala.
Krishan C Bhar was very happy to announce the first flight from Kuwait-Mangalore will start on 17th Jul, 2008 late night. Initially the flight will be twice a week on Thursday and Sunday. Later on, as per the demand the frequency will be increased.
During his speech he presented slide show regarding the new generation aircraft Boeing 737-800 as well other useful information. He also told that fares will be like budget airlines but with added services like on board food packets will be served to the passengers. Drinks (liquor) will be served at extra nominal cost. Baggage allowance from Kuwait-Mangalore will be 30 kilos and Mangalore-Kuwait is 20 kilos. Hand baggage allowed 5 kilos.
Due to Technical reason flight will have a stop over at Sharjah for 50 minutes for refuel purposes. The flying time will be Kuwait- Sharjah 1 hour 30 minutes, stop over at Sharjah 50 minutes and Sharjah to Mangalore will be 3 hours 40 minutes. The total time between Kuwait to Mangalore reduced to six hours whereas earlier it used to take 18 hours. Tickets can be booked online, will have complete transparency. Due to technical reason so far tickets cannot be booked but the problem will be resolved soon.
The Kuwait-Mangalore flight is beneficial to both states Coastal Karnataka and Northern Kerala. He had applauded the relentless efforts of Pascal Pinto, Archie Menezes and all the associations under the banner of UAKK.
Pascal Pinto, (PRO UAKK) addressed the meeting; the golden moment is arrived with the efforts of all. He remembered and thanked numerous associations, various officials of Air India, politicians and government authorities of Kuwait and India for the dream come true.
K Narsing Rao, First Secretary of Indian Embassy and Archie Menezes of UAAK main Co-coordinator of UAAK and top officials of various associations of Mangalore and Kerala addressed the gathering and expressed the happiness.
During the press meeting, Krishan C Bhar, Manager Air India Express well interacted with media as well other dignitaries. The Press meet was concluded with dinner.
During the Press Meet Air India Express officials distributed the information regarding Fare Rules and Policies as follows.
Rescheduling fee of Rs.250/- or its equivalent in local currency will be charged for any postponements / advancements. While rescheduling, if he applicable fare is more than the current basic fare, the difference amount will be charged to the passenger. However, if the applicable fare is less than the current basic fare, the different amount WILL NOT BE REFUNDED to the passenger.
CANCELLATION:
Cancellations over the internet are allowed for passengers who book through the internet or through other modes where the passenger has used credit card for purchase of the ticket. 10% of the basic fare + transaction fee is the cancellation is made 10 days or more prior to the scheduled departure of the flight.15% of the basic fare + transaction fee is the cancellation charge if the cancellation is made between 9 days and 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the flight. No refund if the cancellation is made less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the flight. Only Taxes will be refunded back

Riyadh - Mangalore Flight : KWAR Gets into Action

News From P A Hameed Padubidri For Daijiworld Media Network—Riyadh (CN)

Riyadh, Jul 1: Representatives from the Karavali welfare association Riyadh (KWAR), met the manager of Air India, Ratan Ghosh on Monday, June 30, and handed over a memorandum regarding the direct flight from Riyadh to Mangalore.
This was one of the major milestones embodied by the KWAR in its programme. The delegation consisted of Vijai Rai, president of KWAR, Khasim Ahmed, vice-president of KWAR, Royston Prabhu, general secretary, and Rajesh Kumar, co-ordinator.

The team members expressed their satisfaction with the briefing in which the existence and diverse objectives of the association were communicated to Ghosh. The delegation also highlighted the importance and contribution of Mangalore (undivided district of DK) as a focal point that had the lion’s share in education, economy, trade, business, foreign exchange, and volume of NRIs in the Kingdom.
Ghosh was also invited to the inaugural ceremony of KWAR, to be held on Friday, July 4, 2008 at Al Khayyam Hotel at Hara, in Riyadh. Sources informed that Ghosh is well aware of the region and the airline has done its own survey and homework on the possibility of introducing direct flights on this route.
The management of Air India will look into the technical aspects of operating such flights, their frequency, volume of business expected, subject to the approval of the PCA and availability of aircraft.
This is a long-awaited dream of scores of NRIs based in various parts of the Kingdom like Riyadh, Qassim, Buraida, Hail, Dawadmi, Wadi Dawasir, Al Kharj, Maima, and others. A number of problems in the existing travel system via Mumbai and other terminal points, being faced by Mangaloreans as well as others would be considerably reduced if the direct flight facility is introduced. This will require the co-operation of both the concerned state and central governments in India. So far, there was no unified front to take up the cause in the Kingdom. Now KWAR has been pursuing the issue on a war footing and hopes to have the task accomplished before or by the end of 2008. Since its inception, KWAR has held regular meetings of its executive committee to work towards making this dream a reality.

Kuwait - Mangalore Direct Flight Tickets Now Online

Daijiworld Media Network Mangalore
Mangalore, Jul 1: Daijiworld.com had earlier announced the possibility of flying direct between Kuwait-Mangalore from July 17, 2008. This long-pending dream is now getting realized. Air India Express has now officially conveyed the message to the website that flight will take-off from Mangalore to Kuwait on July 17 at 19.35hrs. It will arrive at Kuwait at 23.05 pm via Muscat.
Next day, flight will take off from Kuwait at 00.05 and arrive at Mangalore airport Via Muscat at 8.30 am
The inaugural fare will be Rs 8, 415 including tax one way from Mangalore to Kuwait and KD 53.70 from Kuwait to Mangalore one way.
Pascal Pinto, main coordinator of Kuwait Konkans informed daijiworld Mangalore office that Mangaloreans are planning big celebration prior to the take-off on Thursday July 17 midnight. He said that he is in touch with the Air India office Kuwait for further details.
Please access www.airindiaexpress.in for booking now!
More details will be updated soon on daijiworld.com

July 17: D-day for Kuwait - Mangalore Direct Flight?

Daijiworld Media Network Dubai / Mangalore / Mumbai
Kuwait, Jun 26: Long-awaited dream of people from Coastal Karnataka and Northern Malabar region living in Kuwait, of flying direct to Mangalore airport is almost set to come true, as final preparations are on and within a week's time tickets will be available online.
Top sources of Air India Express told Rajesh Sequeira, Coordinator for Karnataka NRI forum in Dubai that Thursday July 17 has been finalized as the date for maiden Kuwait-Mangalore direct flight as of now. Authorities have presented the schedule to aviation ministry for approval. The schedule is expected to get the approval within a week's time.
Initially there will be two flights a week, on Sunday and Thursday via Muscat.
Sources also said that a brand new aircraft of AI Express arrived on Monday June 23 and the process of introducing direct flight has started after the arrival of new aircraft. Owing to smaller carrying-capacity of the aircraft, it may not be possible to fly direct Kuwait - Mangalore flight as of now. Hence flights have been scheduled to fly via Muscat for the time being.
Several NRI organizations from Kuwait have been trying for this direct flight from the last few years. Though Kuwait is one of the oldest and largest places where large numbers of Coastal Karantaka NRIs are residing, direct flight to fly home has still been a mirage. This long delay in introducing direct flight had angered large number of NRIs.
Now with the beginning of Mangalore-Kuwait sector, passengers will be relieved of their woes of travelling via Mumbai or other airports in India.
The submitted schedule for approval is as follows:
Flight No. IX 389 / IX 390
Flight will arrive from Coachin to Mangalore at 18.50hrsDeparture to Kuwait via Muscat at 19.35hrs
Departure from Kuwait to Mangalore via Muscat at 0.05hrs next dayFurther information will be updated soon on daijiworld.com

ALL TOLL FREE NUMBERS IN INDIA

Toll Free Numbers in India
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Vijay Rai to Lead Riyadh - M'lore Direct Flight Campaign

by P A Hameed - RiyadhDaijiworld Media Network - Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Jun 22: A long-awaited Direct Flight Campaign kicked off when a common platform representing all the Mangalorean communities, named “KARAVALI WELFARE ASSOCIATION”-Riyadh came into existence on Jun 20, Friday at 4.00 pm in Riyadh.
If at all a golden word to be written, then the pages of history of Mangaloreans in Riyadh-Saudi Arabia becomes most eligible to be on the frontline as a first common platform named “Karavali Welfare Association-Riyadh” came into existence with broad objectives of bringing all Mangalorean communities together and fight for common cause.
Different people working in different directions for a common cause will lead them to zero zone without having an expected results. So, there will be no exaggeration if we say that the dictum “Unite we stand, divide we fall” is the basis for its formation. The birth of the Association started with taking up the issue of Direct Flight from Riyadh to Mangalore. A large number of Mangalorean residents are working in various Companies and establishments in the Kingdom. Many of them usually travel by way of Mumbai International Airport to their destinations, which are situated in and around Mangalore. Most of the Companies in the Kingdom give its employees a round trip tickets only up to Mumbai as a final destination.
The Mangaloreans get worst affected due to this as their on-going journey doesn’t end at Mumbai. They have to spend out of their own pocket for their ultimate destination in Mangalore. If the dream of Direct Flight to Mangalore comes true with the cooperation of all the concerned State MLAs, MPs, Ministers and Central Ministers, Central Ministers of Karnataka State, and other Officials, then it will be very much useful and a countless problems on the way of journey will considerably be reduced. As an initial takeup, the Association gets actively involved in the campaign through various methods that is useful to get the long-pending demands done.
As Vijay Rai, who was selected as the President of the Association, stated in his speech, “We will start our initiative first with signature campaign by linking all the Mangaloreans in and around Riyadh; If all the Mangaloreans comes forward for this cause with a common goal, then we will definitely be successful in getting the demand done without much difficulty;”.
Another guest on the dais, Royston Prabhu, who is selected as General Secretary of the Association, said-“Mangalore is one of the important places in India and it is fetching a hefty income to the national income of the Country through foreign exchange and other investments; a lot of people in and around Mangalore including the residents of northern parts of Kerala like Kanhangad, Canannore in the Kingdom badly need of the direct flight from Riyadh to Mangalore; it is all our duty to endeavor for the cause and bring to the concerned about the issue and get the issue solved”.
Action plan for the coming days was provisionally done to cause the issue on hype and its goal is that it should apparently reach the Bench of Parliament, Vidhana Soudha, Ministers Chambers and Officials’ table. Though some efforts have been floated by the Mangaloreans for the Direct flight cause in the Kingdom, yet there was no any driving force behind all those actions. Jammiyathul Falah-Riyadh Unit had started its signature campaign in its last Get-together and a memorandum was handed to the Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Pranav Mukherjee, and Salman Kurshid, requesting them to kick off the direct flight to Mangalore, when they arrived in the Kingdom some two months ago. The Association is aimed at thrusting the movement in a rapid action and making the long-awaited dream to come true.
Feedback forms have been distributed to the attendees for their suggestions and all have very enthusiastically participated in it. Parvez Ali kicked off the Programme with the welcome & introduction speech in Tulu language. The hotel hall was jam-packed with the enthusiasts. Posters colored with pictures of Kambla, Daff, Harvesting were hanging on the walls of the hall that smelt of Tulunada soil in the desert sand.
Iftikar Ahmed Kana, who is one of the main campaigners for the Direct Flight Campaign, addressed the audience calling for collective efforts in this direction. Rajesh Kumar Surathkal, who is another campaigner for the cause, conducted the master of ceremony on the Program.
P.A.HameedPadubidri, Advocate and Daijiworld Saudi Arabian Correspondent, spoke on the occasion requesting all to view Daijiworld regularly for updated news from Mangalore that will definitely give extensive coverage for the cause. Most of the audience who are regularly viewing Daijiworld appreciated the work of the Website and its new coverage.
The Office-bearers of the Association is provisionally announced in the program and its Inaugural Function will probably be held on 4th July 2008. The names of the office-bearers for 2008-2009 are follows:
President: Vijay RaiVice President: Khasim AhmedGeneral Secretary: Royston PrabhuJoint Secretary: Parvez AliTreasurer: Victor MenezesInternal Auditor: vasudev AminCoordinators: Iftikar AhmedRajesh Kumar SurathkalAravinda Prabhu
Media Coordinator: Adv. P.A.HameedPadubidri

Riyadh: Mangalorean Community to Kick off 'Direct Flight' Campaign

Media Release
Riyadh, Jun 12: A large number of NRIs from the coastal and Western Ghats region of Karnataka, and North Kerala, are engaged in business or employed in Saudi Arabia. Since the commencement of the International Airport at Bajpe, it is a dream of thousands of NRIs who reside in Saudi Arabia to fly directly from Riyadh to their home town Mangalore.
Even though there is a huge population of Mangalorean expatriates living in Riyadh, it is unfortunate that there is no common platform for Mangaloreans to represent their community. With this agenda in mind it is decided to start a separate organization which will represent every community and group and collectively fulfill goals.
Mangalorean community members are planning to meet at Khayyam Restaurant – Hail Wazarat (Hara) Riyadh. Between 4pm and 6 pm on Jun 20, 2008
The primary agenda will be:
To name for the OrganizationSelect office bearersPlan for Direct Flight CampaignOther Welfare Schemes
Community members have urged all residents to rise above caste, language and creed and join hands in this campaign to make the Riyadh –Mangalore direct flight possible.

Land for parallel taxiway at Bajpe Airport notified

The Hindu
MANGALORE June 11: The Government has issued a notification for acquiring 56.46 acres of non-agriculture land at Malavoor village near Bajpe (Mangalore) Airport to build a parallel taxiway at the airport by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The taxiway is the passage in which aircraft move from the runway to the apron (parking area).
M. Maheshwar Rao, Deputy Commissioner, issued the notification on May 20, 2008 under an emergency clause. According to this, non-agriculture lands belonging 20 persons are to be acquired for the purpose.
When contacted Sameer Shukla, Assistant Commissioner, Mangalore Sub-Division, told The Hindu that valuation of property notified will be done by the departments concerned. "We will pass the award as soon as we receive the valuation reports," he said.
"As far as I know there are no habitations in the land proposed for acquisition. Hence, acquisition will not be a problem. But it will be known only after conducting valuation of the property notified," he said. The land will be handed over to the AAI once the process is completed. The AAI will have to fill up a valley there with soil to take up works on the parallel taxiway, he said.
M.R. Vasudeva, director, Mangalore Airport, said that the parallel taxiway proposed to be built will have a length of 583 metres and a width of 38 metres. It will connect the runway with the apron (parking bay) of the new terminal building which is under construction at Kenjar near the airport.
The parallel taxiway is needed in addition to the one connecting the new terminal building.
When there is a parallel taxiway, aircraft can leave the parking bay quickly and the aircraft that lands on the runway can arrive there without delay. This will avoid waiting time of aircraft and enhance the efficiency of the airport, he said.
The number of aircraft movements at the airport went up from 6,268 in 2006-07 to 10,019 in 2007-08. The passenger movement increased from 4.71 lakh passengers to 7.13 passengers during the period, Mr. Vasudeva said

Mangalore Airport Traffic up by 92% : Surpasses Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai

Times of India

Mangalore airport sees phenomenal growth of 92%
Surpasses Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai
Third fastest growing tier-II city
Airport handles 42 international arrivals and departures per week
Handles 28 domestic arrivals and departures per day
Even on cargo front, impressive growth of 39%

Mangalore, May 18: Mangalore has shot to fame as the city’s Bajpe airport has recorded a phenomenal growth in air traffic movement of 92% in February 2008 compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
Mangalore Airport's new terminal will have this look when the work is completed.
According to a report on latest air traffic trends issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Mangalore airport has reported the largest growth in south India surpassing metros like Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, and is the third fastest growing tier-II city in India after Agartala (95.2%) and Indore (105.9%).
The average national growth in air traffic movement in the country for February ’08 was 18% over the same period in ‘07.
According to the AAI report card, the increase in the number of low-cost airlines and international airlines is fuelling the growth of air traffic in these secondary cities. Bangalore is no more the gateway city to Mangalore, as now airlines operate direct flights from Mumbai and other metro cities. Recently, lowcost carrier Deccan launched a new flight connecting Mangalore to Kochi. National low-cost carrier Air India Express will also be upping its frequency in and out of Mangalore as it adds more flights to the Gulf region as well as metro cities in India.
“As Bangalore gets more and more saturated, emerging regional hubs like Mangalore are going to benefit. Mangalore has traditionally attracted the student and leisure traffic, but of late it’s attracting a lot of business traffic especially from the IT sector, forcing airlines to increase their services,” said Kapil Kaul, CEO (Indian subcontinent & Middle East), Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.
Mangalore saw a 67% growth in domestic air traffic movement in February, in comparison to the national average of 17.4%. At present, the airport handles 42 international arrivals and departures per week and 28 domestic arrivals and departures per day. Incidentally, Bajpe airport is the only airport in the state to operate two runways. The new Bengaluru International Airport will get its second runway only in 2014.
Even on the cargo front Mangalore reported an impressive growth of 39% in the year ended March 30, 2008 over the previous year.

Bajpe airport director M R Vasudeva, said, “More infrastructure facilities had to be added to the arrival terminal due to the increase in operations by domestic and international carriers.”
And this spurt in air traffic has helped the airport record an impressive 950% growth in operating profit for the year ended March 30, 2008. It clocked an operating profit of Rs 9 crore up from Rs 83 lakh reported in the previous fiscal. Total revenue of the airport stood at Rs 19 crore for the year gone by.
And the growth is likely to continue to remain at these starry heights as a new terminal building will be up and running by February 2009.

Mangalore: AAI Completes Work on New Apron at Kenjar

The Hindu
Mangalore, May 1: The Airports Authority of India has completed work on the new apron (parking stand for aircraft) pending shoulder works at Kenjar, near Bajpe airport, where its new terminal building is coming up.
The new apron can accommodate four Airbus 310 type aircraft and one Airbus 321 at a time, M.R. Vasudeva, Director, Mangalore (Bajpe) Airport told The Hindu. "The area of apron is approximately 43,000 square metres. It is ready," he said.
Shoulder works of apron and works on the taxiway connecting the apron with the new concrete runway will be completed in a fortnight. The total cost of the apron, shoulder works and taxi way is Rs. 18.19 crore, he said.
The new apron is part of the works being taken up under the modernisation of Bajpe Airport. Work on the new terminal building is under progress in an area covering 18,000 sq. mts. The total cost of the modernisation project is approximately Rs. 147 crore.
The AAI recently wrote to the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat to hand over Maravoor-Kenjar Road to it. This road connects the new terminal building site (Kenjar) with Mangalore-Bajpe Road at Maravoor.
This 900-mt-long 7.5 mt wide asphalted road is in bad condition. Presently the contractors executing the terminal building works use this road to transport light weight construction material to the site.
"If the State Government hands it over, we will widen this road to 9 metres and strengthen it. It will provide connectivity to the new terminal building from Mangalore city," Mr. Vasudeva said.
When contacted, a senior official at the zilla panchayat who did not want to be named said that the AAI’s request would have to be sent to the government. If the State Government gives its green signal, the road can be handed over.
A decision to this effect probably will be taken after the Assembly elections.
"We have handed over a small stretch of road in front of the Bajpe Airport to the AAI. This road is between entry and exit points outside the compound wall of the existing airport terminal building," he said.

Mangalore - Kuwait Flight by July-end: Chellam Prasad

The Hindu
MANGALORE, Apr 29: Air India Express, the low cost carrier of Air India, will introduce a flight service between Kozhikode and Kuwait via Mangalore before July-end this year.
Chellam Prasad, Mangalore Station Manager, Air India, told The Hindu that this flight would operate three days a week. There had been a demand for such a flight service from the non-resident Indians in West Asia, she added.
Timings
She said that the flight would depart from Mangalore in the evening and arrive here from Kuwait in the morning. The exact timings of arrival and departure were yet to be announced. The flight operations between Mangalore and Kuwait would be via Abudhabi or Muscat, she said.
Since there was no aircraft base station at Mangalore, the flight would depart from Kozhikode. “This is like other flights of Air India Express which operate between Kozhikode and some of the destinations in West Asia,” she said.
Ms. Prasad said that the Air India Express operated 21 flights a week between Mangalore and different destinations in West Asia. The destinations are: Dubai, Abudhabi, Muscat, Bahrain and Doha. “With introduction of a new flight service to Kuwait, the passenger traffic between Mangalore and West Asia is expected to increase,” she added.
She said that the airlines began flight service between Mangalore and West Asia, particularly to Dubai, on October 3, 2006. Other services were introduced subsequently. The airlines handled 16,746 passengers from Mangalore to West Asia in 2006-07 and 75,987 passengers in 2007-08.
Chellam Prasad
Celebrations
In a press release, Ms. Prasad said that the Air India Express (AIE) celebrated its third anniversary of introducing first flight in Mangalore on Monday. The AIE, a wholly owned subsidiary of NACIL, was set up under Air India Charters Ltd. The inaugural flight flew on April 29, 2005 from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to Abu Dhabi, she said.
Commencing its operations with three leased aircraft, the Air India Express fleet now boasts of 18 state-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 aircraft, considered to be among the most technologically advanced single-aisle jet aircraft. By the end of 2009, it will have 25 aircraft in its fleet, of which seven would be on lease and 18 owned.

Mangalore: Revenue of Bajpe airport goes up

The Hindu

MANGALORE April 16: A year after it came out of the red, Mangalore airport of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at Bajpe made a remarkable operating profit in 2007-08. It made an operating profit 10 times more than what it was in 2006-07.
Its operating profit in 2007-08 stood at Rs. 8.61 crore whereas in 2006-07 it was Rs. 83 lakh, M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport, told The Hindu.
The airport’s revenue and expenditure in the last financial year stood at Rs. 19.50 crore and Rs. 10.89 crore, respectively, he said.
When net profit is worked out by the auditors, it could be slightly lower than the operating profit which did not account for depreciation and rate of return, he added.
He attributed the growth in the operating profit to increase in traffic and non-traffic revenue. Traffic revenue came from aircraft movements in the form of route navigation, landing and parking charges. Non-traffic revenue constituted revenue earned from renting out its terminal building premises to airline operators, from hoardings and display advertisements, snack bar, car park, travel requisite stall, restaurant and the like.
As the number of flight movements went up, the revenue also increased. The number of aircraft movements went up from 6,268 in 2006-07 to 10,019 in the last financial year, he said. The passenger traffic at the airport went up from 4.74 lakh to 7.13 lakh.
The airport had made no profit in the previous five years — from 2001-02 to 2005-06. Its operating loss in 2005-06 stood at Rs. 2.8 crore.
Construction work
Referring to the on-going construction of new terminal building and apron on the premises of the airport, he said 40 per cent of the work had been completed. He said that concrete works of the basement of the building had also been completed. More than 40 per cent of the concrete works of the first floor had been completed.
Some critical construction material for the erection of roof of the building are expected to arrive from Jamshedpur in a few days.
Apron (parking facility for aircraft) works alone had been completed up to 75 per cent. The apron can accommodate five aircraft, four Airbus 310 and one Airbus 321, at a time.
Works on the construction of two aerobridges were under progress. This will enable passengers to board the flight from the security hold area in the first floor. Ground floor would have the offices of AAI, shops, arrival and departure halls. The basement would have check-in counters of airlines, immigration and custom offices, he said.

Change of Timing: Mangalore - Bahrain - Doha Flight

Change of Timing: Mangalore - Bahrain - Doha Flight
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, April 2: In a short but official notice communicated by Chellam Prasad, manager of Air India Mangalore region has informed Daijiworld that the departure timing of Air India Express of Mangalore-Bahrain-Doha from Mangalore airport has been rescheduled from its earlier timing 18.10 hrs to 16.10 hrs with effect from April 3.
The flight will take-off two hours earlier than the existing departure time.
Currently three flights are operating weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) between Mangalore-Doha-Bahrain.
However, there will be no changes in the existing departure timing from Bahrain and Doha.
Prasad requested passengers to cooperate with the new timing

Mangalore: Another flight to Bangalore

MANGALORE March 31: With the Kingfisher Airlines launching another flight between Mangalore and Bangalore on Sunday, the number of daily flights between the two cities has risen to six.
Of them, the Deccan (formerly Air Deccan) operates two flights, Kingfisher Airlines two and Jet Airways two.
The new flight launched by the Kingfisher Airlines departed from Bangalore at 6.30 a.m. and arrived here at 7.30 a.m. It took off from here at 8 a.m. and landed in Bangalore at 8.55 a.m., Kaustav Nath, Mangalore Airport Manager for Kingfisher Airlines Ltd and Deccan, told The Hindu. "The flight will maintain these schedules, henceforth," he said.
Mr. Nath said that the Kingfisher Airlines had changed the schedule of its evening daily flight between the two cities from Sunday. It would be arriving in Mangalore from Bangalore at 4.30 p.m. and departing at 5.10 p.m. "As per the changed schedule, it will depart from Bangalore at 7.30 p.m. and arrive here at 8.30 p.m. It will take off from here at 9 p.m. and reach Bangalore at 9.55 p.m. It is the last flight between the port city and the State capital city," he said.
He said that with the introduction of the early morning and late evening flights between the two cities, passengers could return to their home cities the same day, after completing their work. The timings of two flights of the Deccan between the two cities have also been revised from Sunday.
The first morning flight of the Deccan from Bangalore was hitherto arriving here at 9.20 a.m. and departing at 9.35 a.m. Now it will take off from Bangalore at 9 a.m. and land here at 10 a.m. It will depart from here at 10.25 a.m. and reach Bangalore at 11.25 a.m. Another evening flight operated from Deccan, which was arriving here at 4.55 p.m. and departing at 5.30 p.m., will henceforth depart from Bangalore at 4.30 p.m. and arrive here at 5.30 p.m. It will leave from here at 6 p.m. and reach Bangalore at 7 p.m.
Flight to Goa
Mr. Nath said that the Kingfisher Airlines had revised the schedule of its Kozhikode-Mangalore-Goa flight from Sunday. "It will arrive here from Kozhikode at 1.30 p.m. and depart to Goa at 2 p.m. It will land here from Goa at 4.30 p.m. and take off to Kozhikode at 5 p.m.," he said.
Hindu

Progress & Process: Have a Look at New Terminal of Mangalore Airport

Progress & Process: Have a Look at New Terminal of Mangalore Airport

By Melka Miyar - Daijiworld Media Network

March 18, 2008Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda

Daijiworld Media Network
Work on the new Mangalore International Airport terminal at Kenjar village here is fast gaining momentum and the airport is expected to commence operations on schedule. However, the lethargic attitude and laxity shown by the local authorities has been proving a hurdle for the overall development of the airport and its surrounding areas.

Plans for the new project were actually put on paper in the year 1988. Now the terminal building is under construction and is expected to complete in December this year. Meanwhile, new plans for Calicut International Airport, the nearest airport to Mangalore, began four years later in 1992, and ironically, Calicut's world-class terminal building already started operating even before the same could happen in Mangalore. However, though Mangalore Airport lagged behind, time has come now to boom to a greater height.

The new airport terminal building under construction at Kenjar is expected to commission its work in March 2009, marking another milestone in the history of Mangalore International Airport. The construction work is going on in full swing, and it is easy to perceive from the speed of work that it is bound to complete in time.

There will be 28 check-in counters, several conveyor belts and inline security checking system. Five aerobridges (passage between the terminal and aircraft) will also be introduced.
A whole new world of opportunities opened to Mangaloreans with the commencement of the international airport. In the meantime, work was started to construct new taxiway and terminal building. The dynamism and zeal of present airport director M R Vasudeva has taken this airport to splendid heights in a short span of time. It is indeed a matter of great pride especially to a remote village like Kenjar to have a world-class airport in its vicinity.
Though world-class facilities are available at Calicut International Airport, it lacks domestic connection. But the case of Mangalore Airport is different. Unlike Calicut, Mangalore enjoys air connections with Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore. Therefore, Mangalore has a greater potential in terms of air traffic movement, say experts.
Mangalore is the only city in Karnataka to have such a sophisticated and well-equipped airport with international flights. Though it is tempting to pat ourselves on the back, there is still a long way to go. The construction of the concrete road connecting the city with the airport is moving on at snail's pace and the condition of the present road is pathetic to say the least.
'Most of my energy has gone into acquisition of land for the new terminal. It required a lot of patience to negotiate with the owners of these plots, listen to their pleas and arrange for compensation, thereby avoiding conflicts and protests. I am very happy for what I have achieved for the people of Mangalore. This could have been even better, if all the external agencies andthe local citizens had worked together hand in hand.'
'Now I have to concentrate more on completing the construction work of the new terminal before the scheduled time,' says Vasudeva.

Air Cargo Facility:
Meanwhile, all the possibilities of cargo export should be explored in the coming days. Only perishable goods, printed items and stationeries have been transported from Mangalore Airport to some parts of the country so far. Opportunities are now open at the global level and it is the right time to think about exporting cargo from Mangalore as the present airport at Bajpe will be left idle after the commission of the new airport, if sufficient cargo is not available.
Once the terminal is shifted to the new place, existing terminal will be used exclusively for cargo handling.

Already there are quite a number of leading shipping companies eyeing to set up base in Bajpe surroundings which is definitely a sign of progress. Even Gulf-based freight forward companies are planning to step on to Mangalore soil.

Apart from being used for the movement of cargo, it can be utilized for handling international flights during Haj pilgrimage, Vasudeva said. There is scope for `Flying Club' as well in the future.

Traffic Growth:
The growth in the air traffic in Mangalore also signifies that there is a bright prospect for development if the opportunities are explored strategically. In the year 2005, a total of 3,700 flights were recorded here and the number is expected to touch 8,600 this year. Meanwhile, the 483-meter-long taxiway constructed at a cost of Rs 3.7 crore is also ready for traffic now.
This has ensured more safety to the aircraft while saving fuel and time owing to the flexibility of operation. Also, 30% of the work related to the new integrated terminal building at an estimated cost Rs 147 crore has been completed and 70% of the work on the construction of apron and three remote parking stands is also over. This terminal will also include check-in counters, conveyor belts and inline security.
Moreover, space has been reserved for taxi parking right in front of the terminal building. The parking lot can accomodate a total of 300 taxis at a time. The basement of the terminal building has been reserved for commercial activities like shopping, cafeteria and flight ticketing while the ground floor has been reserved for airport activities. M R Vasudeva is hopeful of completing the basic structure of the terminal building by May this year and realizing the dream by March 2009.
Nevertheless, major responsibilities come later. Other agencies like state government, private investors, road transport owners and even railway department have to think of ways to explore the opportunities created by the new airport.

Flight to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia:
Thousands of NRIs who reside in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are demanding direct flight from Mangalore since the commencement of international airport at Bajpe.
The airport is all set to accept any international flight from Kuwait and Saudi Arabian airports. Nor are there any legal hurdles to commission direct flight between Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Mangalore. But the ball is in Air India Express' court. It is a million dollar question as to when Air India Express will start direct flights between the three places.

Air India Express' Concern:
Since AI Express is a budget airline, it can fly for maximum 4.5 hrs. The distant between Kuwait - Mangalore and Saudi Arabia Airport - Mangalore would be more than its capacity. Unless new aircraft are acquired, Air India Express cannot start direct flights between these territories. However, there are possibilities of connecting Kuwait - Abu Dhabi or Kuwait - Muscat - Mangalore. Air India Express is also facing a crisis regarding pilots and quite a few pilots hired by AI Express are foreigners.
According to sources, Jet Airways is trying hard to enter the Kuwait - Mangalore and Dammam - Mangalore sector, but none of the top officials are confirming this news, but say 'Be positive, we will come there soon.'
Perhaps, once Air India - Indian Airline merger process completes this sector will have a clear way for introducing direct flights.
Until then let us cross our fingers and wait for the D-day.