DAMMAM, 5 June — NRIs Gulf Forum has expressed its gratitude to Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on introducing a direct flight from Dammam to Calicut. "We’re grateful that you heeded our request and considered it in light of our meeting in your offices sometime back. This was a long-awaited need of the community from Kerala who constitute a substantial number in the Kingdom," said forum President S.A. Ziauddin in a letter to the minister. Ziauddin had followed up the request for direct Calicut flights from Dammam with higher civil aviation authorities.