Daijiworld News Network
Mangalore, April 3: A few weeks ago when Air India Express did their ground feasibility study of International flights landing at Mangalore airport, not many people believed this fact. Aftell, the cry for an international airport had fallen on deaf ears over the last so many years. But there were a few persistent ones who did not lose their hopes. They did not give up their struggle and spared no time and effort to put constant pressure to achieve this goal.
Still there was a fear lurking in the minds of many Mangaloreans that due to various factors that were influencing the upgradation resulting in a setback, the work in progress too would be hampered.
No sooner was announcement of the international flight by Air India Express made on May 7, 2006, than there was a change of guard at the state level and there were strong rumours that at the Civil Aviation Ministry Lalu Prasad Yadav would replace the current Minister Praful Patel. In the meantime, Sonia Ghandi resigned in a dramatical political development. Whilst the hopes of people were rising on one side, on the other side uncertainity started bothering their minds and create havoc.
Yet Air India Express has braved all these odds and have worked against the tide with great determination to move ahead on the project of their international flights landing at Mangalore.
It is not very far off when the dream of every Mangalorean of landing direct at their home territory is going to come true. The expected date mentioned earlier - May 7 - will soon be a Red Letter Day if Air India Express keeps up to its promise.
Air India express has announced the last date for filing of tenders for flight handling services at Mangalore airport as April 17, 2006. The company to bag the tender will have sufficient lead time to get itself in place to handle the job well on time.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Civil aviation has also granted permission for setting up Immigration and Customs at Mangalore Airport. This has been confirmed by a Mangalore Airport official while speaking to Daijiworld.com
Air India express is expected to announce the flight schedule by April second week. However, close sources disclosed to daijiworld that there would be four flights per week from Dubai. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Timing will be 2010hrs arrival Mangalore. Similarly, return flights from Mangalore will be around 2110 hrs.
Official confirmation regarding this is awaited from Air India Express.
"Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope hurdles don't come our way. Our wait has been long and the dream is nearing finish. With all hopes and high spirits, May 7 will be the day to make every Mangalorean NRI proud of landing on his / her homeland." says Dubai-based Rajesh Sequiera, main coordinator of Karnataka NRI forum of Dubai.
Rajesh has been regularly in touch with leading Mangalorean business community in India and UAE, the Airport authorities and Air India Express. He also added the Indian Aviation has really changed, thanks to the aviation Minister Praful Patel's efforts towards effecting changes in the industry. "It is my dream to see the first flight landing at mangalore non-stop from any foreign destination," he says while speaking to daijiworld.com
"It will be a drastic change which will result in a lot of improvement as well. Not only will Mangaloreans have the opportunity of saving on time, energy and sleepless hours of travel, but there will be better services that will be provided. Air India Express, known as budgetairlines offers a very reasonable rate for Dubai-Mangalore flight" he says
Companies interested in applying for tender for airport handling services can download the information on-line ...........Click Here
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