Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Apr 12: Number of direct flights that were operating from the international airport in the city to Kuwait is reduced to just one from three from March 19. Thousands of passengers are facing hardship due to this change.
Neither the union aviation ministry nor Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have given any clarification for the reduction of direct flights. Due to this decision, countless passengers, especially women, are facing extreme inconvenience.
Mangaluru International Airport (file photo)
Thousands of natives of Mangaluru and other parts of undivided district of Dakshina Kannada are working in Kuwait. They and their family members used to travel directly to Kuwait. In addition, natives of Kasargod, Kodagu, and Hassan and nearby district people were also using this facility as it is easier for them to reach their native place.
According to DGCA, at least 30000 people travel between Mangaluru and Kuwait. Some other surveys say that this number is around 50000.
Due to the reduction of direct flights from the city to Kuwait, the passengers have to fly from Kannur, Panaji or Bengaluru international airports. This is not easy as the passengers have to get checked in for two different flights. It is time consuming as well as tedious. The plight of women travelling with children is really difficult. Passengers have urged the central government to increase the direct flights to three per week as before.