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‘Jet’ to link Karipur, West Asia

Staff Reporter

Two Jet Airways flights a week to Doha, Muscat
Air India must increase flights to Saudi: Minister

MALAPPURAM: Jet Airways will soon begin flight services from Calicut International Airport, Karipur, to countries in West Asia. The airline will operate two services a week from Karipur to Doha and Muscat, Union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed has said.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Mr. Ahamed said talks were on between the private airline and the civil aviation authorities to confirm the schedule.

The services will initially be restricted to two a week, he said.

Quoting Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla, the Union Minister said Jet Airways operations from Karipur would be launched in a few weeks.

He said the Prime Minister’s Office had taken special interest in clearing the impediments for the private airline to start its operations to the Gulf.

Mr. Ahamed said the Centre was following a policy by which foreign airlines would be encouraged to begin their operations to Indian destinations.

Asked about allowing private airlines to operate to Saudi Arabia, the country where a vast majority of Keralite expatriates work, the Minister said it was not possible in the present circumstances.

He, however, demanded that Air India should increase its flights to Saudi Arabia considering the number of passengers to that country. “Air-India, ‘as usual,’ has agreed to consider the demand,” the Union Minister said.

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