Air India Express, the low-cost carrier of Air India, suspended its only flight service between Mangalore and Kuwait from Thursday. It was operating this Kochi-Mangalore-Kuwait sector thrice a week.
The official attributed the withdrawal of the service for the national carrier withdrawing its four leased aircrafts following the expiry of the contract period. The official said Mangalore-Kuwait sector was also at a loss managing with low passenger traffic.
The official said it handled 5,568 passengers (arrival and departure) between Mangalore and Kuwait in four months from September, 2013, to December end, 2013.
For example, the official said if 378 passengers arrived from Kuwait to Mangalore in September, 2013, only 199 passengers arrived in November last year.
But Rachana, Catholic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mangalore; United Associations of Karnataka, Kuwait; Konkan Overseas Returnees Welfare Association, Mangalore, have strongly opposed the decision of Air India.
Its representativesmet Nagesh S. Shetty, Station Manager, Air India, Mangalore, on Friday and submitted a memorandum to Civil Aviation Minister Ajith Singh through him.
They demanded resumption of the service.
Mr. D’Souza said they would resort to a hunger strike in front of Air India’s office here if the service was not resumed.
