UAKK urges continuation of Kuwait-Mangalore direct flight service

Kuwait, Dec 27:  More than one lakh expatriates from Coastal Karnataka, Mangalore and Northern parts of Kerala are disappointed to hear that Air India Express is wrapping up its flight services to Kuwait – Mangalore Sector from February 15, 2014 throwing the travel plans of the passengers into disarray. 

Prominent Coastal Karnataka NRIs in Kuwait said that by deciding to wrap up their services to Mangalore route, Air India Express has put the passengers in trouble and the travel woes of Indian expats in Kuwait are surely going to worsen in the coming days during the summer season in 2014 as the summer vacation for thousands of school going children starts during the month of June. 

Sensing the aggravated hurdles and to address the public interest, The United Associations of Karnataka, Kuwait (UAKK) an umbrella forum of 12 associations in Kuwait has immediately urged the Union Ministry of civil aviation to instruct Air India Express to retain the regular flight services to Kuwait – Mangalore sector, the only direct travelling option to Mangalore for thousands of Expats from Coastal Karnataka and Northern parts of Kerala region. UAKK has also urged Ministry of Civil Aviation to consider granting permission to other Airlines such as JET AIRWAYS to operate in this sector so that the passengers will have more than one travelling option to Mangalore and Kerala.

Follow up with Ministry of civil aviation, Delhi and Air India Express Management:

A delegation from (UAKK), in Kuwait met Mr. Ajay Sinha, Country Manager of Air India Express in Kuwait recently at their Kuwait city office and submitted a copy of the memorandum addressed to Shri Ajit Singh –Union Minister for civil aviation to intervene in this matter on top priority basis to solve the hurdles of the worried passengers. 

The delegation included UAKK Coordinators Mr. Hasan Yusuf, Satishchandra Shetty,   Mr. Stephen Machado, Mr. S.M. Basheer, Mr. Ramesh Kidiyoor  and prominent Coastal Karnataka NRIs Mr. Sudhakar Shetty, Mr.  Fayaz Sheikh and Mr. James Paul.

The memorandum was jointly signed by the Heads of following 12 Karnataka state associations operating in Kuwait for community development projects:

Karnataka Muslim Welfare Association (KMWA) Kuwait, Tulukoota Kuwait (TKK), Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA) Kuwait,  Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA) Karnataka Wing, Kuwait Kannada Koota (KKK), Kasaragod Expats Association (KEA), Bantara Sangha Kuwait (BSK),  Shirva Welfare Association Kuwait (SWAK), , Kuwait Pangala Association (KPA), Agnesian Alumnae Kuwait (AAK)  and Kuwait Brahmavara Welfare Association (KBWA). 

Copies have also been submitted to the prominent dignitaries including Veerappa Moily-Minister, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Delhi, Oscar Fernades – Minister, Transport, Road & Highways, New Delhi, B. Janardhana Poojary – Honorable Ex-Union Minister, Mangalore, Sunil Jain – Ambassador of India, Kuwait, Jayaprakash Hegde – MP, Lok Sabha, New Delhi, Nalin Kumar Kateel – MP, Lok Sabha, Mangalore/New Delhi, U.T. Khader – Minister, Health & Family Welfare, Karnataka State, Ramanath Rai – Minister, Forest Ecology & Env., Karnataka State

Abhaya Chandra Jain – Minister, Youth Ser. & Fisheries, Karnataka State, Vinay Kumar Sorake – Minster, Urban Development,  Karnataka State

Ivan D'Souza – KPCC General Secretary, Mangalore, J.T. Radhakrishna - Director, Mangalore Airport, Mangalore, Manager - Air India Express, Mangalore, K.C. Venugopal – Union Minister of State, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Shri Rohit Nandan – Chairman and MD, Air India Ltd., New Delhi. 

Kuwait – Mangalore Scenario: 

According to the latest figures, there are more than 700,000 Indians currently living in Kuwait and it is approximated that at least 20-25% are from Coastal Karnataka and Northern Kerala region that travel to Mangalore airport.  At present Air India Express is only the direct travel option to this sector, and if this airline wind up their services, there is no doubt that the hurdles of the passengers will be aggravated.  It is believed that Mangalore sector is one of the revenue generating routes for Air India Express and the reliable sources have said that average traffic flow per flight in this route during the year is 120  which  is an encouraging figure for the Airline operators.  If the services are further improved, a good number of passengers who prefer to travel via Mumbai would definitely opt for convenient Mangalore direct flight which may make this route more attractive to the service providers.

Can Jet Airways fly to this sector? 

The answer is 'Yes' subject to certain conditions because of its comparatively good flight services and adherence to its timings.  UAKK has been in touch with Jet Airways management.  Recently UAKK delegation had a meeting with Mr. Bipin Balakrishnan – Sales, Manager, Jet Airways Kuwait office and handed over a memorandum to him which was addressed to Mr. Naresh Goel – Chairman, Jet Airways requesting them to start Jet Airways direct flight services to Kuwait – Mangalore sector as soon as possible.

Jet Airways Management  have informed that they are interested in the sector and they are studying the possibilities of introducing  their flight services from Kuwait to Mangalore via  Abu Dhabi and this will be done as soon as the traffic rights and formalities are sorted out. 

Seeking Support from Sunil Jain, Ambassador of India, Kuwait: 

UAKK delegation has scheduled a meeting with H.E. Shri Sunil Jain, Ambassador of India, Kuwait at his office on Sunday 29th December, 2013 to seek his guidelines and support in fulfilling the hurdles of Kuwait – Mangalore sector. 

Earlier this month, UAKK heads of associations and prominent NRIs of Coastal Karnataka and Northern Parts of Kerala including B.S. Sharafuddin and Sageer Trikaripur, Chairman of KKMA have decided in a UAKK Coordination meeting to intensify the struggle to fulfill the requirements of our worried passengers of Kuwait – Mangalore sector.  The meeting was held on December 12, 2013 at Kids Playgroup, Rumaithiya. 

UAKK has been formed to accelerate joint strategies for some common goals of Karnataka state NRIs in Kuwait.