JOIN USAIE launches direct flight to Saudi
When 56 passengers from Mangalore boarded on to the Air India Express flight IX 385 on Wednesday, happiness was all pervasive not only on their faces, but also on the faces of several Mangaloreans, for it was the moment when the long felt need of the people of coastal Karnataka to have a direct flight connecting Mangalore and Saudi Arabia, was realised.
The Air India flight with a seating capacity of 165 that arrived at Mangalore Airport from Kozhikode at 4 pm, departed to Dammam, the capital of Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, at 5 pm, carrying 109 passengers from Kozhikode and 56 passengers from Mangalore, to reach the destination in four and half hours.
The introduction of direct flight from Mangalore Airport, is a matter of convenience to the people of coastal region, as one had to go to Kozhikode or Mumbai or to Dubai/Bahrain to catch the connectivity flight to Saudi Arabia.
In a simple and informal function, MP Jayaprakash Hegde and MLA U T Khader distributed boarding passes and sweet boxes to the passengers, to mark the commencement of the first flight.
In fact, both the political leaders were among the set of passengers to board the first direct flight. Speaking to Deccan Herald, U T Khader said that he was overwhelmed to fly in the first flight to Saudi Arabia, as he too has contributed to the long fight demanding for the introduction of direct flight connecting Mangalore and Saudi.
“I am going to Mecca to offer prayers prior to the assembly election scheduled for May 5. Finally, the people of coastal region have got the opportunity to fly conveniently to Saudi. With a large number of people from coastal Karnataka and North Kerala earning their livelihood in the Kingdom of Saudi, the direct flight would be convenient to them and their families to fly as and when needed,” he said.
MP Jayaprakash Hegde who too flew in the first flight, said that he and U T Khader would meet the Indian Embassy officials in Saudi Arabia and discuss about finding ways to help people from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi who are facing trouble in Saudi due to Nitaqat (new labour law of Saudi Arabia). On returning to India, he said he would hold talks with the officials in the Ministry of External Affairs and Overseas.
Thahira, a passenger who was ready to board the flight along with her four children, said that she was extremely happy to fly in the direct flight. “This is for the sixth time I am travelling to Saudi. Every time, when I used to fly using connecting flights, I used to face a lot many problems. I was always hoping the authorities to introduce a direct flight to Saudi and now that dream has come true,” she said.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Airport Director Radhakrishnan said that the flight departed on time, without any glitches. The flight which will operate twice a week, is in a large demand and all the seats for April have been already booked, he said.
Flight operation
Air India Express will operate flights twice a week from Mangalore to Dammam, on Wednesday and Saturday and the return flight leaving Dammam - on Thursday and Sunday. The flight IX 385 on Wednesdays and Saturdays will arrive at Mangalore International Airport at 4:00 p.m. local time and depart at 5:00 p.m. It will reach Dammam at 7:10 p.m. local time. The return flight IX 386 will depart from Dammam at 8:30 p.m. local time and arrive at Mangalore at 3:20 a.m. local time on Thursdays and Sundays.
In a press release issued by the Air India Express authorities, the AIE said that it will also be connecting Mangalore to Kochi in the summer schedule. The flight will be operating three days a week - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with departure from Mangalore at 8:25 am, and arrival at Cochin at 9:25 am.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, the flight will take off from Kochi at 4:25 pm and arrive at Mangalore at 5:25 pm, with fares starting from Rs 1,700 onwards. Mangalore-Kozhikode will also be connected in the summer schedule, stated the release.