By operating a flight from Dubai to Mangalore on Thursday, Jet Airways will become the first private airline carrier to launch an international flight from here, said Karnataka NRI Forum UAE coordinator Rajesh Sequeira.
He told reporters here on Wednesday that the Forum in Dubai was lobbying for a direct flight from Gulf countries to Mangalore keeping the interests of flying public in mind. Until now passengers were facing inconveniences due to the lack of direct flights, he added.
Sequeira said that the Forum teamed with the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local authorities and politicians to ensure that second runways and new terminal were set up at the earliest.
With this development, a long cherished dream has become a reality, he said.
Highlighting the benefits, Sequeira said fares will be reasonable and affordable. The direct flight will attract tourists to Mangalore and vice-versa and future programmes of the Forum is to facilitate direct flights to Saudi, he added.
The Forum, Dubai, in association with the West Coast NRI Forum from Dammam and Karavali Welfare Association, Riyadh, is already working on this proposal, he said and added that the Forum, Mangalore, along with the KCCI will keep in campaigning until the goal of having direct flights to other Gulf countries by different airlines is achieved.
Former Mangalore airport director and Forum coordinator M R Vasudeva, advisory member of Labour Welfare Fund Dolphy D’Souza and daijiworld.com chief editor Walter Nandalike were present.