Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB)
Pics Rajesh Sequeira
Coordinator - Karnataka NRI Forum, UAE
Mangalore, Dec 31: It was an emotional moment for the different arms functioning at the Bajpe airport, when the staff of Aiports Authority of India (AAI), different airlines, security and others bade a hearty farewell to Indian airline's senior traffic superintendent Nicius Joseph Lionel Lobo on Saturday, December 30 evening.
It was notable that it was for the first time that the AAI organized a farewell to an airline employee, which proves the regard and esteem Lobo enjoys with one at the airport. His long, unique service came in special commendation from representatives of different sections of aiport operations.
The farewell function was presided over by airport director M R Vasudeva.
Views from the function, with the Lobo family, AAI and airlines staff
Jet Air's Pramod, Kingfisher's Kousthavnath, Air Deccan's D'Souza, station manager Nagesh Shetty, Sunil Bhat and SUdhir Bhat of Indian, Jet Air's Archana, CISF's Nayak and Karnataka NRI Forum coordinator Rajesh Sequeira spoke highly of Lobo's dedication and friendly nature. Girish of AAI compered the function and proposed a vote of thanks.
Lobo speaks to Daijiworld
People who have been travelling from 1980s from Bajpe airport, a common name and a familiar face has been that of Lobo, who has retired after having served with Indian - formerly Indian Airlines - for long 39 years.
Lobo was born on December 14, 1948. Married to Hilda Victoria nee Britto, he lives with wife and two children Lyuba Maria and Paloma Rosemarie. He joined the engineering department of the Indian Airline in 1968. He was transferred to Mangalore in 1977.
Lobo nostalgically recalls that he was seeing only Avros those days. Landing of international flights was a dream they had been seeing those days. He remembers the joint efforts begun in 1980 with the then-aerodrome officer Israel, Indian Airlines station manager P S Shetty and a few students of Karnataka Regional Engineering College (KRE) - now known as National Institute of Technology - Karnataka (NITK) and himself and a couple of friends towards having an international airpot in Mangalore.
The matter remained in cold storage for over 15 years. It was only after the present airport director M R Vasudeva, a product of the undivided DK district took over that things started moving, says Lobo. His aggressive move resulted in Mangalore's getting the international flight facility in 2006, he adds, not forgetting to mention that it was a privilege for him to see the dream of an international flight landing in Mangalore fulfilled before his retirement.
As a committed Indian airline employee, Lobo wished that the very first international flight to land in Mangalore was of Indian. But he is not disappointed, because Indian has been lending ground support to Air India Express flights, to and from only Dubai for the time being.
Lobo is highly optimistic that with airport director Vasudeva at the helm, more development will take place and Mangalore will have major connectivity with the Gulf stations. Aircraft making night halts in Mangalore may also be a reality soon, he feels. But without profitability, not many airlines can sustain operations for long, he opines.
Mangalore Airport - Extensive Coverage by Daijiworld: