'Riyadh - Mangalore Direct Flight by Year End'
News by Iftikhar Ahmed
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Aug 25: During a meeting Karawali Welfare Association Riyadh co-ordinator Iftikhar Ahmed had with Air India manager Chellam Prasad in the Air India office in Mangalore on Thursday, August 21, Prasad assured of her full support to the proposal to start direct flights between Mangalore and Riyadh.

During the meeting, Ahmed handed over a feasibility study report prepared by Karawali Welfare Association Riyadh, on the proposed flight. He explained to her the potential this sector holds for Air India and also various problems being encountered by people living Mangalore and nearby places, in travelling to Riyadh via Mumbai.

Chellam Prasad informed Iftikhar, that Air India Express expects to receive new aircraft by October this year and expressed the hope, that the direct flight to Riyadh from Mangalore might become a reality before the end of this year. She will be meeting P P Singh, with whom discussions about this sector will be held. Air India also has received request letter from the Hajj Committee and she expressed hopes of starting direct flights to Hajj from Mangalore by next year.

Initially, three flights per week may be operated on this new route. Because of the distance involved, Air India Express plans to fly to Riyadh via one of the destigations in United Arab Emirates.