Civil Aviation Gives Nod to Mangalore-Kuwait Direct Flights
from Melka Miyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RD/MB)
Mangalore, Oct 11: The civil aviation authorities both in India and Kuwait have given a green signal to operate direct flights between Kuwait and Mangalore. Air India Express (AIE) will fly between these two stations shortly, Mangalore airport sources confirmed.
The direct flight between Kuwait and Mangalore was long awaited by NRIs of coastal Karnataka in Kuwait, ever since the flights between Dubai and Mangalore were introduced by AIE. A delegation of expatriates in Kuwait hailing from coastal Karnataka have been urging the Indian civil aviation authorities, including the minister, to introduce this flight at the earliest. At last, the direct flight between Kuwait and Mangalore is becoming a reality.
M R Vasudev, director of Mangalore Airport, confirmed this news. Speaking to daijiworld, he said that direct flight service between Kuwait and Mangalore would start any day after October 28.
Tentative Schedule: (Subject to final confirmation from civil aviation and Air India Express)
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Departure time from Kuwait at 23.20 hrs
Arrival at Mangalore: 06.10 hrs (next morning)
Departure from Mangalore: 22.10 hrs
Arrival at Kuwait: 23.10 hrs
One can recall that the Mangalore airport was opened up for international flights on October 3, 2006 with the introduction of a direct flight to Dubai.
At present, Mangalore airport serves as a gateway for the direct flights to Bahrain-Doha and Abu Dhabi-Muscat. With the introduction of direct flight between Kuwait and Mangalore, five of the Gulf Co-Operation Council (AGCC) countres will have been connected to Mangalore, with the sole remaining destination of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to possibly join in the near future.
Earlier updates:
Mangalore Airport - Complete Coverage