Winds of Change!
Welcome aboard again! In case you don’t know, Mr Peter Hill is so connected with Goa. In fact, he is one of the pioneers to recognize Goa’s travel potential. In October 2006, when he was at the helm of SriLankan Airlines, he started a direct Dubai-Colombo-Goa flight.
We Goans in the Middle East are thankful to him for his contribution in connecting us direct to our homeland and Goa to the wider world.
Now, as a CEO of Oman Air, he has more reasons to connect Muscat to Goa. Besides fuelling the flow of Goan community and businessmen between these two favorite holiday spots, WY, with its wide network of connection to major European cities, can make Muscat an ideal first-stop to over 400,000 mostly European tourists, Goa receives annually, and offer them a great opportunity to sample Oman's delights and attractions.
Responding positively to our plea he has instructed Mr Markku Nokkala, Vice President Planning, to examine the matter.
We hope MCT-GOI flight will be another feather in his cap.
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News-n-Views on Direct Flight
HERE's a recent story, in case you’ve missed out, that appeared in Zeenews recently which created an imperative reaction from readers and some of our members fairly explaining our position.
Grounded & Still Grounded
I REMEMBER four years ago a travel agent offering me the best package to Bangkok via Nagpur by Indian Airlines. At the time I just belittled and dismissed it exclaiming -- Nagpur???
Today when I hear of the place I wish Mr Praful Patel belonged to Goa.
From ages, the Goan diaspora have been stuck in a situation which force them to wait around for hours lugging bags and kids for the connecting flights.
All we ask from the Honourable Civil Aviation Minister is to spread his wings bit further so we need not have to run to catch our next flight via Amravati. -- Prasann Sheldenkar of amigoenkar
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YEAH, not only me but all Goans in Muscat specially those who travel with their families do agree with Mr Prasann. Domestic travelers who don`t catch flights regularly, will not understand these problems. -- Daivesh G. Kamat
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DISAPPOINTED with Mr. Vijays comment. I think he is representing the class who never traveled by air. Nowadays air travel is cheaper and most of the middle class people travel to Mumbai or Delhi by air. I definitely understand that we require good roads but the requirement of an International airport cannot be neglected since Goa is an international tourist destination.
Mr. Vijay should also remember that the NRI`s are entitled to get some comfortable traveling facilities as they are contributing a lot for the economic development of the state/nation. Mr. Vijay please visit amigoenkar.blogspot.com and try to understand our problems. -- Shradha
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IF the Navy has done that, I appreciate the Navy. The politicians want to fly in aircraft neglecting the security of the people of the state. if the Navy hand over land and an airport starts operating from a naval base, the navy will not be able to operate aircraft and safeguard the people`s life from attacks. The people needs better roads and other facilities than a civilian airport. How many of us can afford regular flights. For occasional use, an airport anywhere else in Goa will not be a problem. -- Vijay
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Navy refuses land for upgradation of Goa airport: Minister
Zeenews, Tuesday, March 16, 2010
NEW DELHI: Indian Navy has refused to give 51 acres of land sought by Airports Authority of India for upgradation of Dabolim Airport at Goa, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told Rajya Sabha today.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, he said AAI has sought 7.5 acres of additional land for extending the apron at the airport.
While the Indian Navy had in past given 31.946 acres to AAI, 2.52 acres out of 8.77 acres given by state government was being disputed by the Indian Navy, he said.
"Indian Navy has claimed that this 2.52 acres of the land which has been given to AAI by the Goa government belongs to Indian Navy and not to the state government," he said.
Patel said tender process for upgradation of Dabolim airport was underway and would be completed by end-May following which physical construction will start.
A second airport at Goa, which Patel said he personally felt was needed, has to be piloted by the state government. To a separate question, he said work on second phase of Jaipur airport expansion would begin in 2010.
The Minister said the Government does not decide on the routes of public sector or private carriers and it was purely a commercial decision of the airline.
Presently, international flights to Dubai, Muscat and Sharjah, besides 19 domestic flights, operate from Jaipur, he said adding there was no plans before Air India to introduce more international flights from Jaipur.
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