Kuwait: Coastal Karnataka NRIs meet to restore direct flight between Kuwait - Mangalore

By Alban DSouza Ummottu
Bellevision Media Network

Kuwait, Mar 20, 2014 :  Presidents and office bearers of various Karnataka State Associations in Kuwait on Wednesday March 19 met visiting congress leader Ivan D’Souza, secretary of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and discussed the issue of deliberate or planned cancellation of Air India Express flights to Kuwait-Mangalore sector throwing away the travel plans of thousands of NRIs from Coastal Karnataka and Northern parts of Kerala in Kuwait.


The meeting was organized by United Associations of Karnataka (UAKK) convened by well known social activist Elias Sanctis. The meeting was held at Salmiya Play School in Rumaithiya, here on Wednesday March 19.


Elias Sanctis briefed about the difficulties faced by the Coastal Karnataka community with the cancellation of flight services to the said route by Air IIndia Express management.


Hasan Yusuf, chief co-orrdinator UAKK gave details of the UAKK efforts and follow ups with various concerned authorities.

Fr Francis D’Almeida SJ, vice principal of St Aloysius College, Mangalore was also present during the meeting.  Fr Francis expressed the concerns on issues faced by the community during their travel due to the discontinuation of flights in this route. He also said that all the Associations and general public affected must come together and address the issue with government in Karnataka and to all the elected representatives from the region.

 

 

Ivan D’Souza, president of Rachana - Catholic chamber of commerce and Industry, Mangalore and a lawyer in profession is also dissatisfied with the decision made by Indian Carrier. He shared his experience of his journey on his way to Kuwait via Mumbai which was a 6 hour ordeal at Mumbai airport alone!. He insisted to take the matter with higher authorities and the Government and all the elected leaders regardless of political parties so that the Coastal Karnataka NRIs  living in Kuwait get their cancelled sector reinstated.
 
Speaking on the occasion, Ivan D’Souza said that retaining the direct flight services to Kuwait-Mangalore sector is a social obligation of Indian Government as more than 130,000 Coastal NRIs work here.   He assured to the leaders of UAKK member associations that he would help to intensify the Campaign and take up the issue with Central Govt. and the concerned aviation ministry authorities.  He said that Mangalore is an International airport and is having all the facilities to receive international flights 24 hours either from national carriers or other interested International airline companies. Looking at the aggravated situation of travelling to this sector, he said that aviation ministry can grant the landing permission to private airlines such as Jet Airways, Etihad Airline or any other interested airline companies.
 
A task force Committee has been formed to follow up on the issue with the civil aviation ministry, comprising Ivan D’Souza, Elias Sanctis, Fr Francis D’Almeida SJ, Hassan Yusuf, NRI entrepreneurs Satischandra Shetty, Lawrence Pinto and Pascal Pinto and social activist Archie Menezes. 
 
The task force committee has decided to form a core delegation in Mangalore in the near future comprising of union ministers and MPS, state ministers and MLAs from Coastal Karnataka including other VIPs and personally go to New Delhi and pressurize the concerned aviation ministry authorities until they restore the flight services to Kuwait – Mangalore sector at the earliest.