An interview with Monu Mathew of Jet Airways by P A Hameed Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh
'The New Year gift from the Jet Airways will be a 'happy Place' in the maiden-flight of Jet Airways for the Mangaloreans and others from the Kingdom to Mangalore so that it will be realization of long-awaited direct-flight dream, said Monu Mathew, Pricing Manager of Gulf & MEA based in Bahrain, during a conversation with Daijiworld Correspondent P A Hameed, recently at the Airways office in Al-Khobar in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Being very enthusiastic, experienced and approachable person, Monu was very keen to make the first move to take in the direct flight demand being put forward by the Mangaloreans in the Kingdom over the years.
Monu basically hails from Tiruvananthapuram in Kerala and has been serving for 30 years in airline industry in various gulf countries. He started his first gulf career in Kuwait in 1978 in Air India, and then in 1991 moved to the Kingdom of Bahrain in Bahrain Airways before serving British Airways, Gulf Airways etc. At present he has been serving as the Pricing Manager in Jet-Airways since the last six months.
Daijiworld correspondent Hameed with Monu
When the Daijiworld Correspondent met him in his office in Al-Khobar recently, he expressed his views on the maiden direct flight from the Kingdom to Mangalore. The excerpts of his interview with the Correspondent are follows:
Q: What is the status of the direct flight from Saudi Arabia to Mangalore?
Monu: Well, I recently started visiting my office in Al-Khobar in Saudi Arabia. I want to do a new initiative in my service for the maximum betterment of my organization to keep the Airways as a better choice for the customers. I came to know from various sources that there are potential customers from in and around Mangalore. So, I was thinking to meet the potential sources and as a result, I got a chance recently to speak out about my opinion in a large crowded get-together held in Dammam. I was really amazed to meet the gathering and put forward my views.
Everyone in the gathering was very much anxious about the direct flight to Mangalore from Saudi Arabia. I expressed my idea about the maiden flight from Saudi Arabia to Mangalore, but asking some initial cooperation at the start from the Mangaloreans and others nearby.
Q: Why cannot we have a direct flight from the Kingdom to Mangalore while the people in and around Mangalore in other gulf countries are having this facility? Why are we deprived of this?
Monu: It is a real concern. But, unlike other Gulf Countries, Saudi Arabia is the largest in size among the Gulf countries. Unlike other gulf countries, the Kingdom is having three International Airports situated at Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah respectively. It is very difficult or remotely possible to get three things right at one shot. Let us start a step-by-step initiative, so that things will be smooth and easy.
Q: Do you think that there are potential customers from Mangalore and other neighboring places to fly between Saudi Arabia and Mangalore, without touching Mumbai?
Monu: Of course, it was not difficult for me to know that there are potential passengers from in and around Mangalore in the Kingdom. I approached various social and community organizations, their heads, leading personalities from Mangalore and other neighboring places, businessmen, youngsters and other alike. They all have shown their extreme enthusiasm and some have presented their on-going campaign and reports including feasibility study reports.
I came to know that the zooming campaign for the direct flight has been on the rapid move in various parts of the Kingdom by the Mangaloreans. All these scenarios really helped me a lot for my initiative to make the cut to be presented to the head of the Airways to have his green signal in this regard. I am always optimistic about the move. Out of my one month's stay in Al-Khobar, around 16 days I spent in the Kingdom for the good service of the customers.
Q: When do you expect the direct flight to take off from Saudi Arabia to Mangalore?
Monu: A thousand miles' journey begins with a single step is the principle I have adopted in reaching any goal which is set. I want to implement the same principle in this move also. Things towards the full implementation of anything should be set in motion, then only we can have a good result out of it. From zero, we cannot expect anything to be in place. To start with, we should first introduce a twice-a-week flight from Bahrain to Mangalore as it will be a major step forward to kick off the direct flight from Dammam and other parts of the Kingdom to Mangalore
Q: (Interrupted), the idea which you presented already exists as the Air India Express flies twice in a week from Bahrain to Mangalore and vice versa. It is nothing new from Jet Airways for the people travelling to and fro Mangalore. Do you think that it is viable in terms of many aspects like cost-wise and other matters?
Monu: Yes, I was expecting the same response from you. We are providing a free bus and limousine services to the doorsteps of the passengers from Dammam, Al Khobar to Bahrain International Airport and make all arrangements to the best of their satisfaction. There are some problems in the causeway, which are beyond our reach and we should not be blamed for the same. But we can assure you that the time it consumes will be covered in the transportation to avoid any inconvenience like missing of flight etc. due late arrival to the Check-in at the Airport. Moreover, the fares in the Jet Airways are very reasonable and the flight is good enough to provide the customers with quality and efficiency in its services.
Q: But when do you expect the direct flight from the Kingdom, that is to say, from Dammam to Mangalore at least?
Monu: Very soon….but the initial effort, which is from Bahrain to Mangalore, is to have the quantitative amount of the potential travelers flying from the Kingdom to Mangalore. I am extremely hopeful that the introduction of the direct flight from point-to-point may not take much time. May be it will come out as a pleasant surprise within January 2009 itself. But, it will be clear within the next few days once the proposal is put forward before the higher authority in the Organization. Just wait for few days as you waited for years in this regard.
Q: What about the direct flight from Riyadh to Mangalore? Is it in the pipeline? You see, Jamiathul Falah (JF) Riyadh Unit has first voiced its concern about the flight and then now Karavali Welfare Association Riyadh (KWAR) has been heading the campaign by approaching various authorities and concerned, to have the facility from the capital city of the Kingdom. Please have your say in this regard.
Monu: It is my realistic opinion that once the flight from Dammam to Mangalore starts, then it will be easy for us to lead the next turn to Riyadh without delay. I know that Riyadh and its surrounding places comprise major chunk of potential passengers. Since I am not decision-making authority, I can also put forward this proposal with my senior management. As I told earlier, there should be at least a start to achieve a goal. Otherwise, it is of no use.
Q: Who are all the persons and organizations contacted by you in this regard in Saudi Arabia?
Monu: As I told earlier, many organizations, personalities and others are working in this respect. The Organizations like Jamiyathul Falah (JF) Dammam Unit, Darul Irshad Association Mani - Dammam Unit, West-Coast NRI Forum (WC NRI Forum) Jubail, Christian Association-Dammam Unit, Karavali Welfare Association-Riyadh (KWAR) and personalities like Ahmed Hussain (HIT) Al Khobar, Shahul Hameed (AFS), Mr. Kamath from WC NRI Forum Jubail, Zakariya Jokatte (Anabeeb) Jubail and many others were contacted for this cause and they have given a positive assurance in this regard.
Ahmed Hussain (HIT), Shahul Hameed (AFS) both are the Ex-Presidents of JF Dammam Unit, Mohammed Rafeek, Sales Executive-EP and Arshad Quraishi, Sales Executive of Jet Airways in Al Khobar were present in the meet.
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