Mangalore, 23 Feb 2013: On behalf of all Mangaloreans in Kuwait and their families in Mangalore, the representatives of Kanara Oversees Returnees Association (KORWA) led by their president Louis Lobo presented a memorandum to Mangalore south MLA J R Lobo, here on Saturday February 22, urging him to exert pressure in restoring the cancelled Air India Express (AIE) direct flight to Kuwait at the earliest.
MLA Lobo said that he is aware of the issue, and has already initiated the necessary action to place the issue for discussion in the assembly, in the coming week.
The representatives were vociferous in informing him that the people of Mangalore are unnecessarily discriminated compared to neighboring state by giving feeble reasons about the load factor and the expiry of the lease of the aircrafts.
They stated that the only available flight to Mangalore from Kuwait was cancelled and the travelers from Mangalore to Kuwait are again subject to severe inconveniences and sufferings, where as all the flights to Kozhikode and Kochi are operating as usual. AIE would have continued the Kuwait/Mangalore/Kozhikode flight and looked at other options, so that the deprivation of ease of travel to the people of Mangalore could have been avoided. They also wondered whether the flight destinations were changed intentionally from Kuwait/Mangalore/Kozhikode to Kuwait/Mangalore/Kochi to prove the point of lack of load so that the flight could be cancelled under pressure from certain lobbies.
MLA Lobo listened patiently to all grievances and assured his full support. He stated that he has already briefed the minister of state for civil aviation and minister of state for infrastructure. He further said if required he will raise the issue with union minister for civil aviation.
The leaders of KORWA informed MLA Lobo that they are ready to join him both at Bangalore and at New Delhi if required. MLA Lobo informed the delegates that he will update them of the outcome of the discussion at the earliest.