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More Air India flights demanded

Dubai: Eight Indian community associations in the UAE have threatened to boycott Air India (AI) services during the summer holidays in July if the airline does not meet their demand for more flights between Indian cities and Ras Al Khaimah, a news report has said.

At present, only one flight connects the emirate and a city in India. Representatives of the associations said recently that the 4,50,000 Indians in the emirate had to travel by road to Sharjah, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi to catch a flight home.

Ravi's promise

The community members have sent several memorandums and complaints to Union Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi, who has promised to look into the matter.

“It takes minimum four hours by road to reach the airports at Sharjah, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi, and if there is road congestion, some families miss their flights,” S.A. Saleem, president, Indian Association, Ras Al Khaimah, and chairman of the Indian School in the emirate, was quoted by ‘Emirates 24/7' as saying.

He said the Ras Al Khaimah airport was equipped to operate international flights to India. “The chairmen of the Ras Al Khaimah airport and Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation are both on record welcoming Indian carriers to operate from this airport. However, it appears that the return gesture from Indian carriers is not forthcoming,” he said.

The Indian Overseas Congress, Indian Association RAK, Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, Kerala Samajam, Kannur Association of Ras Al Khaimah, Sakthi Kasaragod, Ras Al Khaimah Kasaragod Association, and Ashraya Kasaragod have appealed to Mr. Ravi and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to look into the matter.

Boycott threat

“This should be done quickly, ideally in readiness for the commencement of the school holidays in July as a majority of families will be travelling during this period. If no favourable action is taken in this regard with immediate effect, the various associations will encourage the Indian community to even boycott Air India services during the upcoming holiday season,” Mr. Saleem said.

“Their reasoning for more direct flights linking Ras Al Khaimah and India goes further as there are more than 1,000 Indian companies operating out of the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone alone, where the majority of investors are from Kerala, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad,” M.M. Nooruddin, president, Indian Overseas Congress, said. — PTI

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