Thursday, January 03, 2013

Mangalore: First Jet Airways Direct Flight to Dubai Takes Off

Mangalore - Dubai Jet Airways Flight Gets 'Water Cannon Salute' on Arrival

Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Jan 4: The inaugural Jet Airways direct flight from Mangalore to Dubai landed at 10.05 pm (UAE time), to a water cannon salute at Dubai airport here on Thursday January 3.

The first guest to check-in, Abdul Muneer, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the check-in counters. He was also presented with a certificate.





Thereafter, a cake was cut to mark the launch of Dubai-Mangalore Jet Airways operations.

The return flight to Mangalore took off at 11.30 pm (UAE time).

Saleem Golandaz, manager, customer services, dnata Airport Operations, and the Jet Airways Airport and sales teams including Bram Steller (EVP, international sales), Shakir Kantawala (GM, Gulf, ME and N Africa), Rohan Alva (cargo manager, Gulf), and Sanjay Lobato (duty manager) were present.



Earlier Update (January 3)

Mangalore: First Jet Airways Direct Flight to Dubai Takes Off

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)


Mangalore, Jan 3: Another dream came true for Mangaloreans when flight 9W532 of Jet Airways, the first private airlines to introduce direct flight from the city, took off at 8 pm on Thursday January 3 to Dubai.

The joy was double as the first flight had Mangalorean Capt Santhosh Prabhu as its chief pilot.


































Rajesh Sequeira, coordinator of Karnataka NRI Forum (KNRIF), which played an instrumental role in getting the private airline to fly on Mangalore-Dubai route, had the privilege of being given the first boarding pass.

The occasion was blessed by religious heads of all three major communities - parish priest of Valencia church Fr Bonaventure, Ayub Musliyar and Prashant Bhat.

The flight, as expected was full to capacity.

The flag off at the Mangalore International Terminal was marked by the presence of member of Parliament Jayaprakash Hegde.

Addressing the gathering, he said, "Protector of Emigrants office in Karnataka and direct flight from Mangalore to Dubai were the two long-standing demands from Daijiworld, KNRI Forum and others. One of them has been realised today and the other one is being finalized with the ministry of finance."

He also spoke on the proposed cargo terminal and said that he was confident of getting clearance from government of India. "Competitive prices should be there so that there is no monopoly," he added.

Stressing on the need for direct flight to Saudi Arabia from Mangalore, he requested Jet Airways to start operations on this route at least once or twice a week.

Airport director Radhakrishnan thanked Jet Airways and also invited other carriers to start operations from Mangalore Airport. He further said that currently 35 flights are operating at the Mangalore Airport, which has seen tremendous achievement in all aspects over the past year.

Vasudeva Rao, former airport director and co-ordinator of Karnatka NRI Forum said, “There needs to be competition to ensure quality. Direct flight to Saudi Arabia is the need of the hour. Already a memorandum has been submitted in this regard to the authority concerned."

Gaurang Shetty, senior vice-president (commercial) Jet Airways welcomed the gathering.

Ajay Kumar, chairman of Corporation Bank also spoke on the occasion. Harish Shenoy, regional general manager of Jet Airway’s proposed a vote of thanks.



Press Meet

Prior to the launching ceremony, press meet was held in the premises of Mangalore International Airport. Addressing the reporters, Gaurang Shetty Senior Vice President, Commercial Jet Airways said, “Jet Airways is delighted to provide direct links from the chief port city of Karnataka to Dubai, which is considered to be amongst the best global business and tourism destinations in the world. We are happy to offer seamless connections to several destinations to our guests from Dubai across our global network through our existing Gulf operations. Additionally, this flight will further help strengthen our air connectivity from Tier II Indian destinations into the Gulf, catering to the large number of Indian expatriates settled in the United Arab Emirates, with convenient connections.”

Guests can enjoy an inaugural Economy Class return fare of Rs 20,360 onwards being offered on the Mangalore – Dubai - Mangalore route, on sale since 15th December, 2012, with travel valid until March 31, 2013. Similarly, the One-way fare ex-India is INR 10,101.

The new flight 9W 532 from the port city of Mangalore will depart at 2000 hrs and arrive Dubai at 2230 hrs (LT) on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

On the return leg, flight 9W 531 will depart Dubai at 2330 hrs (LT) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and arrive Mangalore at 0430 hrs (LT) next day.

On Fridays, flight 9W 532 will depart Mangalore at 1900 hrs and arrive Dubai at 2130 hrs (local time). On the return, flight 9W 531 will depart Dubai at 2230 hrs (LT) and arrive Mangalore at 0330 hrs (LT) the next day. On Tuesdays, flight 9w 532 will depart Mangalore at 1940 hrs and arrive Dubai at 2210 hrs (LT).

Jet Airways currently operates daily direct flights to Dubai from Delhi, and four services a day from Mumbai.


Exclusive JetEscapes holiday packages:


Jet Airways’ has also introduced exciting JetEscapes holidays for guests travelling to Dubai for the famed Dubai Shopping Festival, for travel effective January 3rd to February 3rd, 2013. Guests to Dubai, a veritable shopper’s paradise and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, may choose between two attractive holiday packages, both spread over three nights and four days.

The all-inclusive ‘Bonanza’ package starts from INR 30,800/-, and the ‘Extravaganza’ holiday package starts from INR 34,850/- respectively.

While both packages include return air travel in Economy (inclusive of all taxes), Airport transfers, 3-Star Hotel accommodation with breakfast, City Tour, Travel Insurance and earns 5 JPMiles for every INR 100 spent on JetEscapes, the ‘Extravaganza’ package also includes, in addition, a Dhow Cruise with dinner and Desert Safari with Barbeque dinner for guests.

The additional services from Mangalore will now complement the airline’s existing Gulf operations to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Muscat and Sharjah, as well as Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam from several cities in India.

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Mangalore: KNRI Forum's Next Goal - Direct Flight to Saudi

Mangalore: KNRI Forum's Next Goal - Direct Flight to Saudi

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)


Mangalore, Jan 2: The Karnataka NRI Forum (KNRIF), which focuses on matters pertaining to having direct flight to Mangalore from Gulf, is working on connecting other destinations, especially Saudi Arabia to Mangalore, said Rajesh Sequeira, coordinator Karnataka NRI Forum, UAE.




Addressing a press meet here on Wednesday January 2, he said that the forum in conjunction with West Coast NRI forum from Dammam and Karavali Welfare Association, Riyadh has already started working towards this goal.

"With former airport director M R Vasudeva presently representing Karnataka NRI Forum, Mangalore along with Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the struggle will go on till we achieve our goals of having direct flights from other Gulf and Middle East countries by various airlines," he added.

Rajesh further said that the Forum since its inception on September 3, 2004 has taken up various issues jointly with KCCI, the local government authorities, politicians, state and central government and others. "The achievements of the forum are mainly due to team work and support from various persons," he added, expressing special gratitude to Jayaprakash Hegde, MP, Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dolphy D’Souza, advisory member, labour welfare fund, union ministry of labour and employment and others.

He also spoke about the recent achievement, that is, Jet Airways direct flight to Dubai from Mangalore which is set to start operations on January 3. "The direct flight will have various benefits like enhanced connectivity, reasonable and affordable rates by having healthy competition, tourist influx to city and many others," he said.

M R Vasudev, former Managlore Airport director and coordinator of KNRIF, Mangalore in his address expressed his gratitude to Daijiworld.com for its support and for being a major contributor to the Forum’s success. "It is they (Daijiworld.com) who placed NRIs needs before the public and created awareness on various issues," he added.

Commenting on the prospects of launching Saudi Arabia-Mangalore direct flight, he said already 25,000 people from Saudi have provided their passport numbers stating that they need direct flight.

He also said that there are chance of more number of international airlines flying to Gulf countries from Mangalore.

Walter Nandalike, chief editor of Daijiworld.com; Dolphy D’Souza, Narayan Bhat, member of West Coast NRI Forum, Dubai among others were present