It's official - AI Express to launch Dammam-Mangalore direct flight on March 31
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Feb 7: The launch of Dammam-Mangalore direct flight by Air India Express has now been officially confirmed by the airline officials.
As reported earlier in these columns, Air India Express will start Damman-Mangalore-Calicut operations from March 31.
The flight will operate twice a week.
Effective March 31, flight IX 385 will depart from Mangalore on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1700 hours (local time), and arrive in Dammam at 1910 (local time).
The return flight IX 386 will depart from Dammam at 2030 (local time), and arrive at 0320 hours (local time) on Thursdays and Sundays.
With this, the long-pending demand of Mangaloreans in Saudi Arabia as well as back home will finally be realized.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Air India Express Mangalore station manager Melwin D'Silva said that the online booking for the flight will begin in a day or two. The details regarding fares are not available as yet.
Sources told daijiworld that Tara Naidu, chief of commercial, Air India, based in Mumbai had extensively studied the potential of the Dammam - Mangalore sector. She in co-ordination with Melwin D'SIlva, DGM, station manager, Mangalore have worked hard to submit the feasibility report to the Air India management.
"While appreciating the efforts of the politicians and NRE organisation, one should not forget the efforts put in by the AI Express' own staff, led by Tara Naidu and Melwin D'Silva, in realizing the long-awaited dream of Dammam - Mangalore direct flight," said an AI official based in Mumbai.
Air India Express will also be connecting Mangalore to Kochi in the summer schedule. The flight will be operating three days a week - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with departure from Mangalore at 0825 hours, and arrival in Cochin at 0925 hours.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, the flight will take off from Kochi at 1625 hours and arrive in Mangalore at 1725 hours, with fares starting from Rs 1,700 onwards. Mangalore-Kozhikode will also be connected in the summer schedule, stated a media release from Air India Express.
Presently Air India Express is providing convenient connection to the domestic sectors viz Mumbai, Bangalore with fares starting from Rs 2,376, stated the release.