Direct Flight to M'lore : Why Saudi Ignored ? - Efforts done by West Coast NRI Forum

 13 January 2010

Coastal digest exclusive news from Jubail

This is the second effort by the Coastal Digest Team to make readers aware how the Mangaloreans of Saudi Arabia have been deprived of enjoying the pleasure and convenience of flying directly to hometown, Mangalore. Until 2007, if any one complained of not having air connection to Mangalore, he had a consolation voice to sooth his feeling ' after all, it is going to happen soon, situation is ripe and it's only a matter of time now'. Three years have passed and Mangaloreans in Saudi Arabia are still at square one position without least progress made. Whereas other Gulf states such as UAE, Kuwait , Qatar , Bahrain , Oman have got it long back. And now the question of improvement and increasing the frequency of flights find place in their conversation.

In fact, it was Mangaloreans of Saudi Arabia fancied the idea of direct flight to Mangalore when no body had even thought of it. The West Coast NRI Forum came in to existence in 2005 fancying the idea of direct flight to Mangalore when Mangalore Airport was not even a custom airport that could accommodate international flights. Perhaps, few know the fact that West Coast NRI forum had pursued the matter of upgradation of Mangalore domestic airport to Customs airport right from the initial days. When the Chief Editor of Coastal Digest Mr. Kamarudeen talked to President of West Coast NRI Forum Mr Farrook Shahbandri and Organizing Secretary Mr. Shabbir Ahmed ( both based in Jubail ), and learnt the great efforts done by West Coast NRI Forum for the introduction of directs flights between Saudi Arabia and Mangalore.

According to Mr Farooq Shahbandri, West Coast NRI Forum had demanded the upgradation of Mangalore Airport when it was not even remotely being discussed in official circle or in the press. Farooq Shahbandri says when they first discussed the matter with the then director of Mangalore airport M.R. Vasudeva, he welcomed the idea and said this should be pursued seriously if mangaloreans were to get international flights here in Mangalore. Mr Shahbandri and Mr Shabeer proudly shows the communication and follow up made to achieve the upgradation of Mangalore Airport . West Coast NRI forum succeeded in collecting around 5000 signatures within a few days. Signatures were taken along with passport numbers and telephone numbers of signatories, and a memorandum was submitted to Prime Minister of India. West Coast NRI Forum had left no stone unturned in their effort. They have done the best as representatives of NRIs of West Coast. And finally their joy knew no bounds when Mangalore Air port was upgraded and converted into an international customs airport that allowed international flights to land in Mangalore.

When International flight service was announced from Mangalore to destinations in UAE, obviously they were disappointed a bit, but they understood the decision considering the status of dubai in the commercial and tourist map of the world. Mr Farooq and Mr. Shabbir says that both of them were invited to join the maiden flight from Dubai . They showed the invitation sent to them by the airport authorities and Air India Express officials and considered it honor given to them for pioneering the struggle for international flights to Mangalore. They say they didn’t join the maiden flight from Dubai because they expected flight service from Saudi Arabia to Mangalore very soon and wanted to be a part of that historical moment. Flights service from Mangalore to other smaller destination of the Gulf were announced one after another, but least consideration was showen to saudi arabia.

Now it is almost two years past since flight service started to Gulf from Mangalore, but a flight to Saudi Arabia still appears a distant dream. Mean while, many official and unofficial  reasons such as 'Saudi Destinations are beyond the fuel capacity of AI Express flights', 'restrictions from Saudi airports due to lack of bilateral agreement', were offered to justify the delay. Mr Farooq and Shabbir says sometimes these illogical reasoning came from Air India Express officials who knew very well what they were saying was wrong. They say West Coast NRI Forum met  officials of Air India and convinced them of the illogical reasoning. If AI Express flights could move up to Bahrain , why not to Dammam which is hardly 40 KMs away. If bilateral agreement is causing problem, why don’ t they start from Dammam which is free airport and  the most favorite destination in Saudi Arabia , ask Mr Farooq and Shabbir Ahmed.

When asked if they expected any possibility of direct flights in the near future, the West Coast NRI Forum officers said they wanted to speak cautiously. Mr Shabir Ahmed says he  has lost trust on official announcement because no official announcement officially remained official. Mr. Shabbir showed the official information passed on to him announcing  the schedule of the flight.  It was a celebration time for  West Coast NRI Forum. But later, the proposed schedule was discarded. Excuses are offered to cover up things. However, Efforts are still on, says Mr. Farooq and Mr. Shabbir.

Mr Farooque Shahbandri and Mr Shabbir  thanked Coastal Digest for taking initiatives to make a united effort to connect Mangalore to Saudi Arabia