Gulf NRI Forum urges Union Govt to allow Int’l Airlines to Operate M’lore-Kuwait

Pics by John V Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 26 Feb 2014: Gulf NRI Forum president P B Pinto urged union ministry of civil aviation to allow Indian private or foreign airlines to operate flight between Mangalore and Kuwait.

 
Addressing media persons during a press conference here on Wednesday February 26, Pinto said that at the backdrop of Air India Express (AIE) wounded up its flight services between Kuwait and on Mangalore with effect from Thursday February 13; the need of the hour is to allow international airlines to operate the flight services on the same route by union ministry of civil aviation at the earliest, said Pinto.

 
Pinto further said that there are many NRIs hailing from  Bhatkal, Kundapur, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Dharmasthala, Bantwal, Mangalore and northern regions of Kerala in Kuwait.  Due to lack of direct flights from Mangalore, these NRIs waste time and money, undergo unnecessary stress and inconvenience.  Over 1.5 lac NRIs from these regions are working in Kuwait and they travel to their native at least once a year.  ‘This number does not include NRIs not registered with any of 4 associations and these numbers may be two-fold mentioned above,’ said Pinto.

 

‘At this prevailing circumstance, many passengers are forced to take other private airlines due to the convenience of having connecting flights to the Gulf.  This surely is a loss to state-run Air India and Indian.  Lack of direct flight to Mangalroe from Gulf will affect the growth of tourism in coastal region.  The Forum said that Mangalroe is known for its educational facilities, particularly in the professional sector.  Students from many countries travel to Manipal, Mangalore, Moodbidri as well as Nitte, near Karkal.  The direct flights will help many such students,’ said Pinto.