NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies

Indian carriers looking for options after Kuwait ban

DUBAI — JUN 26: India’s state-owned carriers, Air-India and Indian, have started looking at alternative arrangements for their Kuwait-bound passengers, following Kuwaiti authorities’ refusal to allow Indian carriers to land in the city from July 1.

Top officials of Air-India and Indian in Dubai told Khaleej Times yesterday that in case this issue is not resolved, one option would be to re-route their passengers via Dubai, Bahrain and Doha.

The move from Kuwait Government to ban Indian carriers comes after New Delhi’s reported unwillingness to increase the number of flights from India, despite Kuwait’s request in line with a bilateral agreement signed between the two governments, Kuwaiti media reports said.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, S. J. Vaz , Air-India’s Regional Director for Gulf, Middle East  and North Africa, said “We are still optimistic that bilateral talks between India and Kuwait will resolve this issue. In case, Kuwait goes ahead with its decision, we are already looking at various alternatives.”

“We are talking to other airlines about the feasibility of carrying our passengers to Kuwait on their flights from other Gulf destinations, including Dubai. We can re-route our passengers via Dubai, Bahrain and Doha,” he added.

Abhay Pathak, Indian’s Regional Director for Gulf, Middle East and North Africa said: “This is a bilateral issue. I am optimistic it would be resolved soon. However, we are also looking at alternative arrangements.”

Both Air-India and Indian officials said, passengers wishing to cancel their flight bookings can do so without payment of any cancellation charges.

Air-India operates 12 flights every week to Kuwait, while Indian operates six flights on the same sector from different destinations in India.

KHALEEJ TIMES

‘Indian’ flight arrives after nine-hour delay

SHARJAH — JUN 26: Passengers travelling by an Indian airline flight from Hyderabad to Sharjah via Bangalore on Sunday arrived yesterday after a delay of more than nine hours. Passengers said the airline officials had not informed them of the impending delay.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Mohammed Ehtesham Ali, who had travelled by IC961, said, “The flight was scheduled to leave Hyderabad at 6.30pm on Sunday, but was delayed and finally left at 10pm. About five minutes before we boarded the flight, the airline officials told us that the flight will be able to land in Sharjah only the next day.”

When the passengers protested and asked if they could go back home and board the flight the next day, instead of waiting indefinitely at the Bangalore airport, the airline officials, according to Ali, assured them that hotel accommodation would be provided for the night.

“We told officials that we would prefer to go back to our homes and come back the next day. But they insisted hotel arrangements had been made and that we would be taken care of at the Bangalore airport. However, we were left waiting in the lounge at Bangalore airport till our flight took off at 4.15am yesterday,” Ali said.

Another passenger, who did not want to be named, said, “They did not take us to a hotel and said it was too far from the airport. We were extremely upset that we had to wait all night without any alternative accommodation.”

While confirming the late arrival of the flight, Abhay Pathak, Indian’s Regional Manager-Gulf, said, “There was a progressive delay due to bad and unpredictable weather. The route pattern of this particular flight is that of a domestic sector one and the flight was coming from Mumbai to Hyderabad and was up to Bangalore. Since the flight arrived late from Mumbai, it delayed the subsequent flight of IC 961.”

By the time the flight landed in Bangalore, airline authorities realised it would reach Sharjah by 2am but permission to land in Sharjah was denied, he added. “We explored the possibility of getting the aircraft to Dubai but it was not practical. So, we had to wait in Bangalore and as per international law, transit passengers are not allowed to leave the airport,” he said.

He emphasised that the airline had made all arrangements for food and refreshments. “We did the best we could. But no airline in the world can predict delays and make hotel arrangements on a regular basis,” Pathak said.  

An official at the Sharjah Airport said, “Only one runway has been operational since  April 1 as the other one is undergoing maintenance. Hence, the airport is closed from 1am to 6am to all local and international carriers. We will start 24-hour operations from July.”

Meanwhile, all flights including Air-India, Indian, Emirates and other airlines to Mumbai and other cities remained unaffected and were on schedule, airlines sources said.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Double-decker buses to run between Dubai and Sharjah

DUBAI — JUN 26: There is good news for the daily commuters travelling to Dubai from Sharjah for work everyday. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) would be introducing 70 double-decker buses early next year to carry commuters from Dubai to Sharjah and back.

According to senior RTA officials, these buses would start from different places in Dubai like Bur Dubai, Deira and Satwa and drop passengers at Rolla Square in Sharjah. Similarly, people from Sharjah would be dropped at various points in Dubai. With hundreds of people shuttling between Dubai and Sharjah for work everyday, the new bus service would be of great convenience to them, RTA officials added.  

Abdulla Yousuf Al Ali, Director of Public Transport Buses, said, “We have decided on the whole project. These 70 double-decker buses will be in addition to the 45 normal buses. More buses would be introduced in phases gradually. These buses will have a capacity to carry 120 passengers at a time. The bus fares have not been decided yet. But then the new buses would help the people of both the emirates in many ways. Travelling has been a problem and many people cannot afford taxis. The fares would be very economical and people will be able to afford it easily,” added the official.

People travelling from Sharjah to Dubai have been affected lately with many private transport companies forced to stop their services reportedly owing to a trade licence tussle between the Sharjah Transport and the RTA.

The RTA officials also said they were in touch with their Sharjah counterparts. “They are cooperating with us. The people coming from Sharjah can catch anyone of these  buses and can come to the bus stations in Dubai. Similarly, Rolla Square being the centrepoint in Sharjah,  people travelling from Dubai will have no problems going to their respective work places from there,” said the officials.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Expats get 20 per cent quota in public schools

DUBAI — JUN 26: The Ministry of Education has intimated all the education zones specifying that children of expatriates working in both government and private sectors be given admission in public schools. The circular will reach the education zones across the country today.

The move is in accordance with the UAE Ministerial Cabinet’s decision which was taken during its session on June 12.

According to the decision, up to 20 per cent of the seats in schools have been earmarked for children of expatriates working in both government and private sectors.

It is learnt that since the commencement of the registrations almost a month and half ago, schools had been refusing admission to children of employees working in the private sector, though  children of expatriates working in the public sector were being taken in. The MoE had received several complaints from parents of children in this regard. The MoE has extended the registration deadline to July 5.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Sharjah airport to have new baggage rules from June 30

SHARJAH — Jun 26: The Department of Civil Aviation in Sharjah yesterday announced that the new baggage rules restricting volume of liquids, gels and aerosols in hand baggage will come into effect at Sharjah International Airport from June 30.

Ahmed Bukalla, Director-Operations, Civil Aviation in Sharjah, said, “Under the new procedures, passengers will be allowed to carry 100ml packs not exceeding total volume of one litre. These packs should be placed inside 20x20cm transparent re-sealable bags.”

“Passengers can take along medicines provided they furnish medical prescription,” he pointed out.

Dr Ghanem Al Hajri, director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation in Sharjah, said: “The department is keen on following all the procedures that will preserve the security and safety of passengers who use the airport of Sharjah.

“The department has trained all personnel who will be directly involved in the implementation of the new procedures. We will ensure that the enforcement of new rules do not create any delay or inconvenience to passengers,” he added.

Dr Al Hajri said, “We have already placed explanatory posters at the airport and started distributing booklets in different languages for the benefit of the travellers.”

KHALEEJ TIMES

Syrian Air to resume Delhi flights

DUBAI — JUN 26: Syrian Air is to resume flights between Sharjah and New Delhi from July 2 this year after the services were suspended for seven months.

The decision to reinstate flights was made in order to meet demand for the service and in order for the airline to secure their share of sales in the travel market for this important destination, according to a Syrian Air spokesperson.

Syrian Air will operate two flights weekly on Mondays and Fridays.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Forecast to determine storm threat
 
 
UAE - JUN 26: Weather forecasters will today be able to say whether or not another cyclone is on its way to the UAE.

A violent storm is expected to hit most of Pakistan’s coast and India’s west coast.

At present it could be heading towards the UAE – but forecasters stress they do not yet know whether it will continue on this path.

“So far our maps and tests do not show or confirm anything of this sort,” said a spokesman for Dubai’s meteorological office. “We are waiting to see if we receive a warning from the Tropical Cyclone Centre in India.

“Currently there is a lowpressure building over India and it is heading towards the UAE. The centre will be able to confirm if this is going to hit the UAE or not.” Earlier this month the country’s east coast was lashed by storms caused by Cyclone Gonu, which went on to batter neighbouring Oman.

Claims in some local media yesterday that Gonu was about to return were dismissed by the UAE’s Central Forecasting Office.

EMIRATES TODAY

Dubai - Salik stock running dry

Dubai - Jun 26: Dubai residents complained yesterday of being unable  to buy their Salik road toll tags as vendors have already run out of stock.  7DAYS received complaints from worried motorists who said the tags were out of stock at several petrol stations across the city. One motorist said he could not get a Salik tag despite trying six different outlets.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) admitted yesterday that the tags may be out of stock at some locations in Dubai. “Motorists might find a shortage of tags at some petrol stations.

“All they have to do is immediately call the Salik toll free number on 800 Salik (72545) and complain about the shortage. We will immediately send more tags to the centre,” a spokesperson for the RTA told 7DAYS. Reports suggested that a lack of supply had prompted the RTA to release a further 60,000 more tags.

This, however, was not confirmed by the RTA.

SEVEN DAYS

Dubai - Another beach perv deported

Dubai - Jun 26: A man seen pleasuring himself in public has been deported after being caught red-handed by police at Jumeirah Open Beach in Dubai. The 40-year-old Indian was also jailed for a month after committing the indecent act on June 6 this year. Last week a 24-year-old Jordanian man was deported for a similar offence.

SEVEN DAYS