Mangalore-Kuwait flight: J R Lobo, Roshan Baig meet Air India MD, aviation minister


Media Release

Mangalore, Aug 5: Urging to restart the direct flights to Kuwait from Mangalore, J R Lobo, MLA of Mangalore South constituency, along with R Roshan Baig, minister for information, infrastructure development and Haj, met Rohit Nandan, chairman and managing director of Air India and G M Siddeshwar, union minister of state for civil aviation, separately in New Delhi on Tuesday August 5.

The direct flights between Mangalore to Kuwait have remained suspended since February this year.

It may be recalled that Lobo had brought the matter to the notice of the government in the previous Assembly session of Belgaum held during November/ December and the government had replied on the floor that the matter was connected to the government of India and the same will be brought to the notice of civil aviation ministry. However, no concrete action has been taken till date. Hence, Lobo along with Roshan Baig called on CMD of Air India and also the union minister for civil aviation separately at New Delhi today.

Lobo requested both the authorities to restart the suspended direct flights from Mangalore to Kuwait at the earliest. Both the CMD and also the minister promised to look into this seriously and assured that action would be initiated to redress the long-pending grievances of NRIs residing in Kuwait.

Besides, Lobo and Baig informed the minister on the need to extend Mangalore runway by another 285 metres. Lobo impressed upon the central minister that Mangalore is the second international airport of Karnataka whereas the neighbouring Kerala already has three international airports and now they are developing a fourth one at Kannur. If Mangalore runway is not extended, wide-bodied aircraft cannot land in Mangalore which will hinder cargo exports and may also lose the international status, Lobo said.

Next to Bangalore, Mangalore is the only airport in Karnataka which has all the potential to grow and become the major destination for industrial, educational and tourism growth. Roshan Baig also insisted that Mangalore should be given all attention and stated that Karnataka govt will give all support to the central government to develop Mangalore airport.

In response, the minister of state for civil aviation stated that this project requires an investment of more than Rs 1,100 crores. Hence it has to be developed on PPP model as it was done in Cochin. The union minister assured to take up this issue seriously. Roshan Baig suggested that if the civil aviation ministry came up with a proper plan, this could be proposed for the forthcoming Global Investor Meet.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Sayad Imran, Shirva / Udupi / Mangalore

    Thu, Aug 07 2014

    Air India says that weekly 3 flights operates from Kuwait to Mangalore, are 75% of travelers in that flight are from Keralite how true we don't know. In that case bring down to weekly twice, but stopping is not the solution. I don't understand flight operates from all over countries and local cities to Mangalore airport why they giving excuse for kilo meter long run way requires for Kuwait Mangalore operation. All flights landing and takeoff is all according to Indian aviation and runway is made according to Indian aviation rules.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jenny, Shirva - Kuwait

    Thu, Aug 07 2014

    Why are people concentrating on Air India only, why can the concerned people approach Jet Airways, or other carriers? They like to travel in other airlines because of poor services from Air India, yet they approach Air India to resume flights. When the service is poor from Air India, they will complain with a long list. It is time to approach other airlines as well.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • AUBB, Kuwait

    Thu, Aug 07 2014

    Where is Madhwaraj, Sobakka and Nalin??

    why is Mr.Lobo trying to do things single handedly, when this issue needs to be taken up by all MLAs and MPs concerned (Udupi/Mangalore)??

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajan Pereira, Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 06 2014

    What about a direct flight to Bangkok ,Colombo & Singapore from Mangalore ?

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • RDSouza, Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 06 2014

    Tell these leaders to repair Mangalore's roads first then they can go to delhi to request AI to restart flights. Their Congress party is the one who discontinued this flight in February 2014. They have got another two and half years to do anything good for the community. Their party won last assembly election because people punished BJP!!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Lamb of god, Kelarai

    Wed, Aug 06 2014

    May this photography and article turn into reality soon...Bollywood drama

    DisAgree [3] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • rajesh, moodbidri

    Wed, Aug 06 2014

    when published and which website please give details

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Eulalia Dsouza, Bijai / Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 06 2014

    Dear Mr.Lobo, you are the Man, who will do what you've promised to do .. Thank you for this initiative as well. We hope to see light at the end of the tunnel soon.!!
    If Mangalore airport is not developed to facilitate wide bodied air crafts landing, we will loose substantial business to Kannur, Kerala, without any doubts. So it is high time we push the concerned authorities, increase flights, increase run way length and this will increase Business to our city. This will enhance " Mangalore Image "
    Thank you Mr. Lobo.!! Continue doing good job.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn, mlore

    Wed, Aug 06 2014

    please remember Saudi arabia as well. need some direct flights from jeddah and riyadh badly..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Agnel, Udupi

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    It is not necessary congress or BJP, whoever is in power that is their duty to do something good to their people.

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Allan D'Souza, Paladka/Kuwait

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Thank you Mr. J.R. Lobo for following up this matter(which you had promised during your last Kuwait visit). Also thanks to Mr. Roshan Baig for your support. Why Mr. Nalin Kumar is silent on this?

    DisAgree [3] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • RDSouza, Mangalore

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    This flight was discontinued during Congress rule and now when BJP is in power these shameless and useless Congress leaders requesting to restore direct flights between Mangalore to Kuwait.Hypocrisy of these Congress leaders fully exposed !!!!

    DisAgree [74] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Francis, Managlore

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    There is no Hypocrisy here. This how the ruling and opposition should work. Your thinking is wrong. This issue for the public benefit. Whichever party is no issue. Problem must be addressed and find solution. If the step is taken, appreciate that.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • SANTHOSH, KUWAIT

    Wed, Aug 06 2014

    AIX is already included flights from Mangalore to Kuwait via Bahrain and return as direct from Kuwait to Mangalore. This news already published in online media in Kuwait. The visit by these two gentlemen is just a drama to get credit after its realization.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • jeevan, mangalore

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    65yrs congi rule failed to do and Now it is BJP turn....let hope the best.

    DisAgree [58] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 06 2014

    Dear jeevan, mangalore,
    NalliNeer Kumar, Shoba Karentijji and Saddhu Gowda have failed to impress Civil Aviation Ministry/Minister so far due to HoneyMoon in the coorg Estate. Shame on three of them.

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Joesph Fernandes, Mangalore / Kuwait

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Man of words. Thank you. During his recent visit to Kuwait during KCWA Silver Jubilee, he promised that he will take up the issue with the Govt. of India after the new government formation. He has done that without any follow up. Hope he will also follow up with matter and we will have a direct flight soon from Kuwait to Mangalore.

    All the concerns are raised are need of the hour and for future development of Mangalore.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [44] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian Dsouza, Udupi/Mumbai

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Good work, J R Lobo, and R Roshan Baig, for putting forth Citizens demand viz.
    1. Restoring direct flights between Mangalore to Kuwait.
    2. Extend Mangalore Airport runway by another 285 meters to facilitate landing of wide-bodied aircraft.
    Hope Union Govt will honour its commitment of infrastructure development in our region.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [44] Reply Report Abuse

  • Max and Jessie Rasquinha, Mangalore, Houston/Dallas, Texas

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Regular exchange of flights between Kuwait and Mangalore will bring multitudes of benefits for both Kuwait and India. Air lines plying between one area to another can be a big boost for the Economic, Commercial, Cultural as well as Social advantages for Kuwait as well as Mangalore. It's all about people of both countries travelling back and forth and bringing both the Cities together by creating closer ties with each other. Once Air India succeeds in their initial approaches then the Kuwait Airways will also find its flight pathway towards Mangalore with connecting flights to other neighboring States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and even Andhra Pradesh.

    Once the passengers start patronizing various air carriers then they get motivated for various new ideas and benefits that will help both Kuwait and India to work together for many other areas.

    Thank you, Mr. J. R. Lobo for your close surveillance on all the new possibilities of Travel and Tourism between Mangalore and Kuwait. Your dedication and service will be a good role model for all those that surround you.

    Airline business is perhaps the best contributor towards our approach towards Globalization.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    I am sure our Siddeshji will do the needful in couple of months.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Aug 05 2014

    Nalin and Shobha should have also participated ...

    DisAgree [34] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangalore-Kuwait flight: J R Lobo, Roshan Baig meet Air India MD, aviation minister



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