Media Release
Kuwait, September 11: It looks like the good news is approaching nearer and nearer to Mangalorean NRIs in Kuwait as well as NRIs from Kasaragod including Northern parts of Kerala, Bhatkal, Udupi and surrounding districts.
F.J. Vaz -Air India Regional Director for Gulf, Middle East & Africa has firmly assured to Mr. Pascal B. Pinto – Community Leader & Coordinator representing Mangalorean and Kasaragod Expatriates in a cordial meeting held yesterday in his Air India Dubai office that Air India or Air India Express will soon start their flights to Kuwait / Mangalore sector. Vaz has also said that now they are in the final stages of negotiations with Airport Authority of India regarding the airport facilities available in Mangalore airport for smooth handling of the traffic.
Pinto told that his meeting yesterday with the Air India Regional Director
F.J. Vaz and with Mrs. Alka Arora, Air India Marketing coordinator – Gulf, Middle East & Africa accompanied by Adolf Lobo, Businessman in Dubai and Praveen Pinto was very much fruitful. He also said that the Regional Director was much positive to the recommendations made by Air India Kuwait office Manager for Kuwait & Cyprus Kishen Bhar who has been continuously following up the subject with Air India Management to start Air India flights to Kuwait / Mangalore sector with reasonable fares earliest possible.
During the meeting Vaz also appreciated the Aviation Minister Praful Patel for his cooperation and for his open sky policies, he urged all Mangaloreans and North Kerala NRIs to firmly support and make use of international traveling services rendered by our National carrier Air India.
From the last few years, Mangalorean Expatriates in Kuwait have been relentlessly following up with Aviation Ministry of India, Air Port Authority of India, Air India and other political VIPs requesting flight connectivity between Kuwait and Mangalore.
Recently Kasaragod Expats Association (KEA) along with other Karnataka Associations NRIs in Kuwait have also been putting up their efforts for our long awaited dream of traveling to Mangalore from Kuwait directly by Air avoiding all troubles and inconvenience that agitate the minds of a large number of NRIs, justifying the need to have the flight connectivity in this route which can also be a revenue enrichment for our National carrier Air India.
Apart from the people of Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts in Karnataka, Mangalore airport has also been traditionally used by people from Malabar region such as Kasaragod and Kannur districts. Once Mangalore is linked with Kuwait by Air India or Air India Express, the entire community from this region traveling to and from Kuwait will avail the services of India’s national airlines.