Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 21: Several flight operators including Air India have agreed to begin operations of new flight services to destinations like Bengaluru, New Delhi, Goa and Pune from the airport here.

During his recent visit to the city, union minster for aviation, Suresh Prabhu, had assured to convene meeting of officials at New Delhi to discuss ways and means to start additional flight services from here and also to achieve overall improvement in the airport.

A meeting of officials chaired by joint secretary of the union government, Usha Padhee, that was held at New Delhi on Thursday December 20 was attended by Dakshina Kannada member of parliament, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and officials of IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India. At this meeting, a decision to begin four to five start services to current or new destinations from here was taken.

Kateel expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the meeting, as new flights including to some new destinations would be introduced soon from here. He said that Air India has agreed to begin new flights between the city and Bengaluru and also from here to New Delhi via Bengaluru immediately. It also has promised to introduce flights between the city and Kolkota, while IndiGo said it has already sought permission to begin flights to Goa and Thiruvananthapuram from Mangaluru, he stated.

SpiceJet has given its nod to start services between the city and Bengaluru and also to Mumbai, he added.

The meeting also discussed about the long-pending demand of passengers from the Gulf for changing the flight timing of Mangaluru - Kuwait flight operated by Air India Express. Air India officials said that changing of timings has to be decided at international level and that the flight operating company in Kuwait also has to agree for the change. The officials are said to have promised to hold talks with the officials of that country in an effort to change to a time that is convenient for Kannadigas, Kateel stated.