Mission Kuwait-Mangalore Direct Flight Accomplished - What Next..?
Daijiworld Media Network
Mangalore, Jun 2: As the news of online booking of Kuwait - Mangalore direct flight spread, there was heavy rush to Air India express website to book the ticket. Some were disappointed because system was not accepting the foreign credit cards. But officials of AI Express assured of rectifying the error soon.
AI Express has now launched the first flight by announcing flights on every Thursdays and Sundays. The mission is completed and many individuals and associations have put in their efforts towards realizing this dream of lacs of Mangaloreans living in Kuwait. Despite all euphoria surrounding this maiden flight, if one looks on the other side, there is indeed a great fight going on between many to claim the credit. But actual credit perhaps must go to Air India Express, Kuwait Airport authority, Mangalore airport authority along with the individuals and associations who followed-up the case and not any single individual.
On this historic occasion Daijiworld spoke to a few leaders of the associations who were available for comment along with Capt P P Singh, COO of AI Express, M R Vasudeva, director of Bajpe International Airport and Chellam prasad, Air India Manager, Mangalore.
Here are their views:
Capt P P Singh
COO - Air India Express:
I am happy that the dream of Mangaloreans in Kuwait has finally been realized. We have been trying for this route eversince the first flight to Mangalore was launched from Dubai. It had some delay owing to internal technical things, route problems, seat-sharing issues and other general issues. Now our next goal is to fly Saudi - Mangalore. We hope that even this dream too will realize soon.
M R Vasudeva
Airport Director
Bajpe International Airport:
It is another feather in already glittering cap of Bajpe International airport. I have been receiving good support from all angles for development of Mangalore airport. We have approved landing of Kuwait flights and now I am happy that we are connected to one more destination. We have assured our complete support to other pending destinations too. We have tremendous increase in traffic to Mangalore from abroad as well as domestic routes. Terminal 2 work will be completed as scheduled in March 2009. Though the rain has spoiled continues work, I am confident that we will reach the goal soon. I am happy to inform that now our fire fight section is working in 2 shifts. My boss Rama Lingam in New Delhi has kindly approved for the second shift which is another development for us.
Chellam Prasad
Manager - Air India Mangalore
Thank you Daijiworld for your support. We will plan some grand programme on the July 17, 2008 at the Mangalore airport. We have been trying hard for this destination. In my previous press release I have mentioned that Kuwait direct flight will happen by the end of July. Now I am happy that it has happened much before that. Let us hope that we will have good load from this destination.
Pascal Pinto
Co-ordinator : Kuwait Konkans
Together we have done it! Sky is the limitation for the joy and happiness of Mangaloreans in Kuwait. Mangaloreans here in Kuwait are in celebration mood along with our brothers from Kasaragod, Bhatkala, surrounding districts and Northern parts of Kerala. It is time again to fly and color the Mangalorean & Kuwaiti skies with the Golden Wings of Air India Express. Mangaloreans are flying towards more success. Bajpe is the spirit and pride of Mangalore. Together united we make good times possible. It is again something special in the Mangalorean Air making the sky nicest to fly along with our neighboring friends.
The road towards achieving the target of Kuwait / Mangalore sector direct flights was not smooth, but was filled with hundreds of hurdles. With the blessings of Almighty God and with the prayers of thousands of our people, together we made the mission possible. Since last several years we Mangalorean NRIs in Kuwait have been planning and stepping up our efforts and follow ups phase by phase to create the mass awareness among our people with the help of media, associations and politicians to catch hold of the attention of our Aviation Ministry in regard to the direct flights from Kuwait and other GCC countries to Mangalore. The objective was to bring a sigh of relief to the large number of Mangalorean NRI and the surrounding districts populace/passengers in Kuwait including northern parts of Kerala that include thousands of low income NRI categories, women, children, elderly and sick passengers. We succeeded in accomplishing our mission due to the numerous support rendered by Air India/Air India Express, Central and State govt. authorities, individuals, politicians, media and associations.
17th & 18th July 2008 will a historical day for all the Mangalorean NRIs in Kuwait because the first Air India Express maiden International flight IXE-389 will take off from Mangalore (Bajpe) airport to Kuwait and on 18th July IXE-390 will take off from Kuwait to Mangalore carrying our proud NRIs from Mangalore and surrounding districts including that from northern parts of Kerala. First of all we thank God Almighty for the long awaited dream of Mangaloreans will now become true with the landing of Air India Express in Kuwait from Mangalore and we have to appreciate some of our own known brothers for their day and night struggle in achieving the target of direct flights to Kuwait/Mangalore sector. We Mangalorean NRIs in Kuwait take this opportunity to thank Aviation Ministry of India, Airport Authority of India and Karnataka State Government and other Indian and Kuwaiti Govt. bodies for their continued support.
We would also take this opportunity to thank all those locals and NRIs in Kuwait and other gulf countries who have worked relentlessly day and night for this dream to be fulfilled. Our special thanks also goes to Praful Patel – Civil Aviation Minister, Govt. of India, Fawaz Al-Farha,President-DGCA Kuwait and Veerappa Moily, Chairman – Administrative Reforms Commission, Govt. of India, Vasudeva M.R. – Bajpe Airport Director, Kishan Bhar – Country Manager Kuwait and Cyprus, Ashraf Reservation Manager and Staff of Air India Kuwait office, and all MP, MLA, and other politicians,Friends who have helped us in achieving our target.
Archie Menezes
Main Coordinator
United Associations of Karnataka (UAKK), Kuwait
It is indeed great news for all Mangaloreans in Kuwait. After a long struggle we have achieved our goal. Direct flight from Kuwait to Mangalore is a dream come true and on behalf of UAKK I would like to congratulate all Mangaloreans in Kuwait on this achievement.
I must thank and give credit to all the people involved in this mission, especially all the member associations for their continuous support and encouragement. We are grateful to Kishan Bhar, Manager of Air India in Kuwait along with his staff and M R Vasudeva, Station Manager of Bajpe airport for their relentless efforts. Now that we have achieved our goal, it is important that we support Air India Express to keep the ball rolling and thus enable them to increase the frequency of flights in the near future.
Rajesh Sequiera
Main co-ordinator
Karnataka NRI Forum Dubai
I would like to thank Daijiworld.com and team for the constant follow-up and coverage which has enabled to gather much needed support for this cause.
It was a long cherished dream of people from Kuwait which has now come true. Our efforts will go and we will not rest till we connect Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh. Kuwait flight was only possible because of great coordination between UAKK (umbrella of organizations from Kuwait), Archie Menezes and Karnataka NRI Forum Dubai and Also Kishan Bhar, Manager Kuwait and Ms Chellam Prasad Manager Mangalore.
Next Mission: Mangalore - Saudi Arabia Direct Connection , Increasing flight frequency between Mangalore - Kuwat
Divin Kumar Menda, Bajpe
President
Bunts Sangha Kuwait
On behalf of our members, I congratulate and thank all those people who sincerely believed and worked for this cause to make our dream come true. It is a big milestone and will be a great day in the the history of Mangalore and especially for Mangaloreans .
Jossie Pinto, President
Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA)
Indeed great news for all Mangaloreans in Kuwait, which greatly relieves all the hardships we had to go through while travelling to Mangalore via other destinations.
It has been a long struggle to reach here and on behalf of KCWA I would like to thank each and everyone involved in this movement and wish everyone happy time flying direct to our homeland.
Nakre Satishchandra Shetty
Kuwait Tulu Koota
Long- awaited wishes of Kuwait Mangalorens are fulfilled. Hereafter we can save a day and lot of troubles when we visit Mangalore as we do not have to go to Mumbai, as well as Mangalorens can send their wife and children directly to Mangalore for holidays or for any emergency without any worries, in case husband cannot accompany them for any reason. Direct flight to Mangalore is a real blessing and we all wish and hope that flight service will keep on improving by increasing the no of flights as well as quality of service.
Lawrence Pinto
Konkan Talents Kuwait & Community leader
This is really a good thing happened for Mangaloreans in Kuwait. I wish every success to this cause. I congratulate everyone who is involved in this movement. Daijiworld has done a great job in bringing awareness to the cause of International flights to Mangalore
Earlier News on Daijiworld:
Historic Moments: