Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Oct 2: Melwin D Silva has assumed charge as the new Station Manager of Air India, Mangalore a week ago. He took over from Chellum Prasad who has been transferred to Chennai. Melwin who is the Dy General Manager at Air India, will function as the Station Manager of Air India, Mangalore. For Melwin a native of Mangalore but born and brought up in Ahmedabad, this is like homecoming as he had served here for a four-year period between 1998 and 2002 before being transferred as Station Manager to Goa.
Melwin, who is a MBA from B K School of Management in Gujarat, had joined Indian Airlines in Ahmedabad and has worked in various capacities and also as the Country Manager in Pakistan between 2006 and 2008. In Ahmedabad, he worked as the first Station Manager of the integrated Indian Airlines-Air India which merged to become Air India.
Talking to Daijiworld Melwin said he would give priority to add new avenues to the existing set up. “Our international flights are doing very well and we are definitely looking for opportunities so as to strengthen our network in Mangalore” he said. On asked whether Air India’s image has taken a beating in the recent past, he pointed out “it is only the perception of the people which changes once they fly with us. We have a good image as compared to our competitors and we would like to strengthen the existing image and at the same time look for other avenues to improve our image”.
On asked what it feels to be in Mangalore after a gap of almost 10 years he said that in the last 10 years Mangalore has undergone myriad changes including Indian Airlines getting merged to become Air India. “Now it is a bigger picture as compared to what Mangalore was 10 years ago. The airport has got the status of international airport and now we are working on a bigger canvass. Since I have worked here and have good rapport with the staff and the people it would be easier for me to accomplish what I have in mind”, he ascertained.