There was no direct flights from Mangalore to Kuwait sector before, after much protest and demand Air India started flights but running on odd timing which is forced stop service in 2013.
Government is not giving license to other flights to operate nor they are flying any flights, even there are more than 2 lakh Mangalorean’s and surrounding area people in Kuwait. It is a big headache Flying via Bombay or Bangalore with double the ticket charges for low earning laborers , but government was not bothered about it.
Again after much protest and request Air India Express announced to resume flights to Kuwait from Mangalore.
NEWS :-According to K Shyam Sundar- CEO, AICL it is learnt that it has been planned to reintroduce the link between Mangalore and Kuwait three times a week effective 27th October 2014, i.e from the start of the Winter 2014 schedule. The routing of the flight will be Mangalore- Bahrain – Kuwait – Mangalore. The flight from Mangalore to Kuwait has been planned to be operated on Monday, Wednesday and Friday departing from Mangalore at 7.30 AM and reaching Kuwait via Bahrain at 11.15 AM (local time).
In the return direction the flight from Kuwait to Mangalore will operate non-stop leaving Kuwait at 12.15 PM local time and arrive into Mangalore at 19.25 hours local time. — END of NEWS
In Kuwait weekend starts on Friday and most of them have 2 days weekly holidays other than Maids/Drivers or low wage laborers; so majority travel on Thursday evening or night and reach Mangalore on Friday morning, that’s the best convenient time as many travel by these flights, because they are from little faraway places like Kasaragod, Shimogga or Madikeri. If they reach Mangalore in the morning they can reach home before noon or evening. But this time, it’s scheduled to reach 19.25, and after finishing Customs and immigration, it will be 21.00 for sure. So it’s very difficult to travel at night, nor taxis will come faraway places nor is it safe to travel at night. AI or government never think about it, nor they study travelers Interest.
Same in return flight to Kuwait also, which starts at morning 7.30from Mangalore, for this flight, passengers should reach by 5am at least to complete customs and immigration and they have to start from home at least 12.00 midnight, those who travel from Kasaragod or Shivamogga its impossible.
With these timing, no one will travel in these flight, and AI, Government will says its running in lose as no one is travelling. AI set these timings, just to show that this sector is running in lose.
Best timing needed is.
Mangalore – Kuwait.
Friday – 6PM
Saturday – 6PM and another week day suitable at same time, so employee can reach just night before week starts.
Kuwait – Mangalore
Thursday – 0.15(Midnight)
Friday – 0.15 and any other week day at same time, so passengers can reach in the early morning.
