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Rachana demands resumption of Mangalore-Kuwait flight service

  •   Fri, Feb 14 2014 07:14:54 PM

Rachana demands resumption of Mangalore-Kuwait flight service

Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore(MD)

Mangalore, Feb 14: Rachana, Catholic Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday February 14 held a protest against Air India Express over the suspension of Mangalore-Kuwait Flights by Air

The protest was held in front of the Air India Express office, Lalbagh.

Addressing the protest, Ivan D'Souza,  president of Rachana said, "Reports in the media that Air India Express has officially wound up its flight services between Mangalore and Kuwait from Thursday, February 13, apparently due to the lack of availability of aircraft after the expiry of the contract, is shocking news for the people of region.  What we fail to understand is how the said services can continue on the extant route of Kozhikode to Kuwait even as it bypasses a location that has thousands of passengers desirous of using the services from Mangalore to Kuwait.

"As a state owned airline, Air India Express has a social obligation to serve the thousands of citizens that travel from this region to Kuwait, and the existing flight services were indeed a boon to citizens of the coastal region. The flight services also had a very positive impact on the economy of the region," he said.

Further he added, "Air India Express was the only airline to operate between Mangalore-Kuwait, serving thousands of expatriates travelling from Kuwait to coastal Karnataka, from Bhatkal to Mangalore and the northern parts of Kerala. Suspension of flights is going to have disastrous effects all around and I urge our minister for civil aviation Ajith Singh to restore the services immediately.

"If this service is not restored we will be forced to take the matter further, to ensure that the region and its people do not suffer on account on this sudden withdrawal of the Mangalore Kuwait flight services," he added.

A memorandum was submitted to the Air India Express manager Nagesh Shetty, who assured that he would talk to his seniors and promised to look into the matter as soon as possible. A copy of the memorandum was also sent to addressed to union ministers Oscar Fernandes and Veerappa Moily.

President of Konkan Overseas Returnees Welfare Association (KORWA) Louis Lobo, KORWA vice-president Elias Sanctis, Rachana general secretary John Monteiro, Ashith Pereira, Jessie Pinto, Flora Hislop, Anil Lobo, Oswald D'Cunha, John Tauro, Deepak Monteiro, Cyril D'Souza, Chennappa Gowda and others were present.

 
  

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Comment on this article

  • Gurudath, Mumbai

    Sat, Feb 15 2014

    Just throw open to private players all international destinations from Mangalore.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Hasan Yusuf, MANGALORE - KUWAIT

    Sat, Feb 15 2014

    ..(contd.)
    10- Shri B Ramanath Rai – Minister, Forest Ecology & Environment
    11- Shri Abhaya Chandra Jain – Minister, Fisheries & Youth Services
    12- Shri Vinaya Kumar Sorake – Minister, Urban Development
    13- Shri Ivan D’Souza – KPCC Gen. Secretary
    14- Shri J T Radhakrishna – Airport Director, Mangalore
    15- Manager – Air India, Kuwait
    16- Manager – Air India Express, Mangalore

    Prominent Coastal NRIs in Kuwait have spoken to most of the above mentioned Ministers, MPs and other VIPs to discuss this matter with Aviation Minister, and we are expecting their urgent intervention and positive response from these VIPs and peoples’ representatives.

    It is with sad that our only travelling option from Kuwait to Mangalore, AIR INDIA EXPRESS is winding up its flight services from February 15, 2014 throwing travel plans of more than 100,000 expatriates from Coastal Karnataka, Mangalore and Northern Parts of Kerala into disarray. It is quite obvious that we are disappointed facing extreme difficulties in maintaining our travel plans to Mangalore and Northern parts of Kerala.
    With AIE wrapping up its services to Mangalore route, travel woes of Indian Expats are surely going to worsen during the Summer season in 2014. By deciding winding up services to this sector, AIE has put the passengers in trouble. The yearly average of 120 passengers per flight in this sector is an encouraging figure for Private Airlines.
    In view of our difficulties, we kindly request Aviation Minister to intervene in this matter on an urgent basis and advise private Airlines to introduce their flight services to KUWAIT-MANGALORE sector on top priority basis as it would be a sigh of relief for Indian communities travelling to and from Kuwait to Mangalore.

    At the same time, we request your good self to consider granting permission to other Airlines such as JET AIRWAYS to operate their flight services to KUWAIT-MANGALORE sector soon so that the passengers will have the better travel option to this sector.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Sat, Feb 15 2014

    It is really a genuine demand by Rachana to resume the services of Mangalore-Kuwait flight services.Hope for the best.Thanq.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincy, Bangkok

    Sat, Feb 15 2014

    Nageshanna AI bodchi,same route ..nama onji Boat suru malpuga.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • George A. Borromeo, Angelore, Mangalore, India

    Sat, Feb 15 2014

    Rachna is headed by Advocate turned Politician in Mangalore. He is a Congress Activist, KPCC General Secretary, DCC Vice President, has more clout with Union Ministers and State Ministers, Then why giving memorandum to local Air India Express Manager????? That too from Rachna flat form??? Why not from Congress Platform ?? Baath kutch samaj men nahin aaya!!!!!
    Rachna is a forum of Catholic (Not Christian)Chamber of Commerce and Industry, then how come Doctors or Advocates,etc., Professionals get membership in that forum ?? Can any one throw some light to my darkened Mind????

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Hasan Yusuf, MANGALORE - KUWAIT

    Sat, Feb 15 2014

    Weldone Rachana Catholic Chember of Commerce and KORWA.

    Shri Ajit Singh – Honourable Union Aviation Minister, the reasons cited by your good self for Air India Express wrapping up its flight services to Kuwait-Mangalore sector from 14th February, 2014 are not convincing to our passengers. For your kind information, Mangalore airport is not a new airport, it has been operating since last 65-70 years and passengers even from northern parts of Kerala until Calicut used to travel via Mangalore airport since many yearst, by that time there was no airport in Calicut.

    How come all of a sudden Air India Express suffering loss due to Kuwait-Mangalore sector? After a long struggle by our people, 3 years when Air India Express wanted to start their maiden direct flights to Kuwait-Mangalore sector, we remember very well that during the feasibility study Air India Manager had asked us if there would be at least 50 passengers per flight to survive in case if they introduce weekly 2 flights to this sector, and we had clearly told him that there would be average more than hundred passengers per flight and during the season, vacation periods and festival times there would be heavy rush and there would be no enough aircrafts available. However, now we have information from the reliable sources that now the average is 100 passengers per flight during the year, then how come all of a sudden Air India Express citing loss in this sector?. Since Kuwait-Mangalore sector is a profitable sector, the lease period of those 4 aircrafts could have been easily renewed well in advance. If Air India is suffering the heavy loss, it could be due to various other reasons, and not due to Kuwait-Mangalore sector services. As Mr. James has rightly said below if Air India Express are in loss, then how come they are starting their new flight services next month to 6 new international destinations? Something is wrong going on..

    Dear Aviation Minister – soft reminder that, We UNITED ASSOCIATIONS OF KARNATAKA, Kuwait (UAKK) an Umbrella Organization of 12 Associations in Kuwait and Kasaragod Expats Association (KEA) have concerns and difficulties of our Kuwait-Mangalore sector passengers to your kind attention through our joint memorandum dated 16th December, 2014 signed by the presidents of 12 Associations. This memorandum has been copied to the following dignitaries:

    1- Shri K.C. Venugopl – State Aviation Minister, Ministry of Aviation, New Delhi
    2- Shri Veerappa Moily – Minister, Ministry of Petroleum products & natural gas -New Delhi
    3- Shrir Oscar Fernades – Minister, Transport, Road & Highways -New Delhi
    4- Shri B. Janardhan Poojary – Ex. Union Minister
    5- H.E. Shri Sunil Jain – Ambassador of India, Kuwait
    6- Shri Rohit Nandan – Chairman & MD, Air India Ltd.
    7- Shri Jayaprakash Hegde – MP, Lok Sabha, New Delhi
    8- Shri Nalin Kumar Kateel – MP, Lok Sabha, New Delhi
    9- Shri U.T. Khader – Minister, Health & Family Welfare

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • preethi, mangalore

    Sat, Feb 15 2014

    This is because Air India only worried about Mallus. If they can't provide services to Mangalore let them give chance to other Airlines.

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D, Udupi

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    Ask any other airline if they are interested!! Our AIE has no planes!!! Give a chance to those having ready planes!! If willing give them a immediate chance and transfer the AIE bookings to them! Let them give better price than the loss making airline in spite of making people pay through the nose!!!

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    Ivan Saab, all Mangaloreans are with you for this good cause. Your TRP is gone 40 % more after this good initiative. Also thanks to Korwa, and all the reprntetives.

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent, Mangalore

    Fri, Feb 14 2014

    These people seem more interested in the Publicity and Photo opportunity rather than the actual flight suspension. It really is unimportant if AI-Express continues to fly Mangalore Kuwait. What is important is that the short sighted government allow private carrier to also exploit this route. This will be better for both competition as well as passenger satisfaction.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse


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