Historic Mangalore-Kuwait Flight All Set to Take-off


Historic Mangalore-Kuwait Flight All Set to Take-off

Spot Report by Gladson D'Almeida
Daijiwork Media Network - Mangalore
Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje

To Watch Video - Part I - Click here

Mangalore, Jul 17: A long-chershed dream of lacs of Mangaloreans living in the distant land of Kuwait is now all set to be realized in a couple of hours' time from now. As the much-awaited moment is drawing near, everyone gathered here in Mangalore airport is having a feeling of being a witness of historic moment.

The formal inaguration of the maiden flight was done in the departure lounge of the airport in the presence of Mangalore airport director M R Vasudeva, Air India Express Mangalore manager head Chellam Prasad, Air India Express commercial manager Ratan Bali, chief finance officer Harish Pai and Karnataka NRI Forum convener Rajesh Sequeira, inspector in-charge for immigration Mangalore, Manjunath Shetty, Khandelwal, deputy commander for CISF, S B Samath, assistant commissioner of customs, KCCI president Kumble Narasimha Prabhu. The dignitaries lighted the lamp and then cut the cake as a symbol of formal inauguration of maiden Mangalore-Kuwait flight.

All those who had gathered to witness this historic moment were in for a great surprise when Sanjay Kumar and team from Mangalore presented a coulourful yakshagana. It was indeed a traditional touch to this historic moment.

Earlier addressing the media persons Ratan Bali said that Air India Express indeed proud to begin their services to Kuwait via Sharjah. "We at AI Express always treat Mangalore as one of the prime sectors and today to begin a direct flight to Kuwait is indeed an achievement of sorts to all of us. Kuwait is totally new destination for Air India Express and though it took a bit long time than anticipated it has finally been done," he said.


Speaking about the much-demanded direct flight to either Riyad, Dammam or Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bali said that even Air India Express is prepared to begin their service to this destination. "As of now I can say that a direct flight to KSA is our next immediate priority and with the arrival of our new aircraft, even this sector will be connected to Mangalore directly. Our total fleet strength is 25 and we have 19 flights as of now. Another 6 flights are expected to arrive in turns by October 2009," he added.  All I can assure now is that KSA is next on Air India Express radar. Though I cannot tell you as on which date we will fly directly to KSA, I can assure you that it will happen very soon. From the day we had first international flight from Mangalore, that is, on October 3, 2006, to now, we have grown day by day. From those 3 flights per day we now have reached 14 flights per day. So growth is positive," he concluded.

To Watch Video - Part I - Click here

  

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Comment on this article

  • M. Harish KUmar, Manglaore

    Sun, Aug 03 2008

    Really it was a great pleasure and happy to know that Mangalorens can fly directly to Kuwait after Bahrain & Abudhabi. Now we all request and hope to see that flight should come and go to Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a country which is having more workers than other gulf countries. We all hope that this should start soon before new year 2009.

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  • Abdul Khader, Vittal

    Sun, Jul 20 2008

    Please start flights from Mangalore - Dammam as soon as possible

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  • maxi & freeda, mangalore/kuwait

    Sun, Jul 20 2008

    congrats everyone who behind this grear effort specially mr. pascal pinto and rajesh sequeira worked very hard back of the screen keep it up dear pinto and sequeira. god bless you and your family for the effort you would taken for it. at last but not least thanks for daiji world and mr. vasudev for their support.

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  • Wolfy, Udupi/Shj

    Fri, Jul 18 2008

    A big and HEARTY CONGRATS to AI Express for starting this flight and DaijiWorld.com for covering this event! And of course this flight is a blessing especially for Sharjah residents (and of course Kuwait residents as well)! Never more do we have to battle the Sharjah-Dxb traffic to get to the airport and take a flight back home to Mangalore! Now home seems to be closer than ever! Hope AI Express crosses the hurdles of reaching out to our brethren from the KSA! God bless you all!

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  • Moosa Kunhi, Kakkinje/Qurayyah.

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    Please start flights from Mangalore - Dammam as soon as possible.

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  • rai, kuwait

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    congrats the direct flight mangalore to kuwait.wish you all the best for air india express.thanks to daiji

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  • Rizwan Salwan Q8, Kundapur

    Fri, Jul 18 2008

    CONGRATULATIONS the direct flight from Mangalore to Kuwait i wish all travelling today a very safe journey and a very safe landing in kuwait thank u Daiji for great news,

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  • vally, Mlore/Dubai

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    Congrats Pascal Pinto you work hard for this project no one mention your name but we know how much you work behind of this.our dream come true keep up the tempo.

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  • Ramesh, Mangalore/Singapore

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    When are you starting direct flights to Singapore from Mangalore?

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  • Mohammed Anees, Shirva, Managalore

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    CONGRATULATION TO ALL MANGALOREANS.THIS FLIGHT WILL BRING VERY CLOSE TO KUWAIT AND MANGALORE. PRESIDENT OF SHIRVA ASSOCIATION,KUWAIT BRANCH

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  • Joe Gonsalves, Mangalore/U.S.A.

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    This is yet another in the cap for Mr. Vasudev Rao who has been greatly responsible for the all round growth of The Bajpe Airport. This unassuming gentleman means business and even though he has made great strides towards progress of The Mangalore International airport he is blessed with simplicity of heart and mind. It is also good to see The Air India lady manager doing a fine job. I had an occasion to meet this fine lady recently at a party and indeed she is blessed great sales qualities. She is convincing, humourous and a great manager. I am sure that during her tenure traffic between Mangalore and other parts of the world will see considerable growth. Joe Gonsalves

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  • u naveen devadiga, udupi/kuwait

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    ANTHU INTHU FLIGHT BANTHU.congrats airindia management our long KANASU NANASAAGI BANTHU.

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  • jayasheela d'souza, bantwal/kuwait

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    my sincere thanks to Almighty Lord for blessing all those who made this "Flight" possible. I wish a pleasant journey to all my dear ones who made it up for the first flight from Kuwait to mangalore on 18th july. All the best....

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  • RAYMOND SEQUEIRA, KUWAIT/MANGALORE

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    CONGRATULATIONS the direct flight of mangalore to kuwait i wish all travelling today a very safe journey and a very safe landing in kuwait thank u daiji for great news I am waiting 28 July to fly mangalore...

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  • Remy, Goa

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    Good news to Mangaloreans. Can Air India Express explain when Goa-Dubai-Goa will start operating? Why discrimination towards Goans in Dubia?

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  • BADRU MUNIR, LULU / KUWAIT

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    "CONGRATULATIONS" YAAR MAI ISS KWT TO M'LORE KA FLIGHT KA WAIT KARTHE KARTE PICHLEY 5 SAAL SE APNE GHAR NAHI GAYA.LAGTAHAI AB MERA GHAR JANEKA WAQT AAGAYA HAI.THANKYOU BHAILOG MAHERBANI AAP LOGON KI.

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  • HAMEED, Mangalore /Jeddah

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    "CONGRATULATIONS" THE DIRECT FLIGHT OF MANGALORE TO KUWAIT. IN SAUDI ARABIA 3 MAIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT- RIYADH, JEDDAH AND DAMMAM. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO START THERE?

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  • N S Shetty, Karkala / M R P L

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    To Mr Satishchandra Shetty President Tulukoota Kuwait,Congratulations and Hearty Welcome to Mangalore in the first ever direct fleight fm Kuwait.

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  • MANSOOR, KUWAIT / DENDOORKATTE

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    "congatulation" the direct flight of mangalore to kuwait  long cherished dream has come true now

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  • MANSOOR, KUWAIT / DENDOORKATTE

    Fri, Jul 18 2008

    "congratulations" the direct flight of mangalore to kuwait our long cherished dream has come true now

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  • Fayaz Sheikh, Mangalore,Kuwait

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    I wish all the mangaloreans who are travelling today to mangalore a very safe Journey and a very safe landing in Mangalore.Have a nice flight.

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  • george borromeo, mangalore

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    congrats air india management our long cherished dream has come true.keep up the tempo.

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  • Jagadish, Kundapur / K S A

    Thu, Jul 17 2008

    "CONGRATULATIONS" THE DIRECT FLIGHT OF MANGALORE TO KUWAIT..AS I READ HERE THAT THE NEXT SCHDULE OF AIR INDIA EXPRESS FLIGHT IS TO FLY IS SAUDI ARABIA-RIYADH. THANKS TO DAIJIWORLD ..WHO BROUGHT US ALL THESE THINGS WITHIN THE TIME AND FOR THE FANTASTIC PHOTOS.

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