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 18.50hrs
Departure to Kuwait via Muscat at 19.35hrs
Departure from Kuwait to Mangalore via Muscat at 0.05hrs next day
Further information will be updated soon on daijiworld.com
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