Gulf NRI Forum demands better services on Kuwait-Mangaluru AIE flight

Mangaluru, Feb 16: Expressing happiness at the re-commencement of Kuwait-Mangaluru direct flight by Air India Express, the members of Gulf NRI Forum - Kuwait have aired their grievances demanding better facilities from the airlines.

Addressing a press conference in the city on Monday, president of the Forum P B Pinto said that despite being budget airlines, Air India Express should make their flight service from Kuwait to Mangaluru more convenient for flight passengers with better facilities onboard the aircraft.

“We are requesting the airline authorities to revert back to their previous flight timings for Kuwait-Mangaluru direct flight, since the previous timings are more convenient for passengers flying to Mangaluru from Kuwait. Earlier, the flight would depart from Kuwait at 12.15 a.m. and land in Mangaluru at 7.15 a.m. which is convenient for frequent flight passengers. Currently, the flight is scheduled from Kuwait in the noon at 12.30 p.m. and lands in Mangaluru at 7.30 p.m. which leaves the alighting passengers no time to travel to places outskirts of the city. Even the previous timings for the return flight at 6.15 p.m. from Mangaluru to Kuwait is preferable for passengers,” he said, requesting the airlines to implement the previous timings for the Kuwait-Mangaluru flight.

He said that the airlines should also improve seating facilities onboard the flight, along with providing better seating arrangements and other facilities for passengers such as elderly people and mothers with infants.

The forum has also urged better refreshments onboard the flight, and provision of reasonable fares along the lines of other budget airlines such as Etihad Airways, AirArabia and Al-Jazeera Airways.

Mr Pinto said that the from the time of recommencement of the direct flight services from Kuwait to Mangaluru, the passengers were unable to book or purchase their flight tickets online through credit cards. The passengers are facing hassles through internet ticketing or online purchase of tickets through credit cards, which should be rectified by the airlines, he urged.

President of Konkan Overseas Returness Walfare Association, Mangaluru Louis Lobo, former president of Mangaluru Urban Development Authority Tejomaya and zilla panchayat member Janardhan were present in the press conference.