THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 5 November 2006 — Air Arabia, the region’s first low-fare airline, will commence its flights to the Kerala capital from Sharjah today. Rohit Ramachandran, Air Arabia’s regional manager for India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, said the fares start from Rs. 3,800 exclusive of taxes and surcharges. “We will provide connectivity to destinations in 17 countries including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait,” he added. “The launch of these new services is part of our commitment to passengers as we strive to deliver value to our customers by ensuring that our network has broad coverage at the lowest possible fares,” a news release quoted Air Arabia CEO Adel Ali as saying. The budget airline launched its flight to Chennai Thursday and Thiruvananthapuram is its sixth destination in India. Booking and buying of tickets are made easy through the website www.airarabia.com.
CIAL Plans
The Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) will go ahead with its proposed budget airline as soon as the federal sanction comes its way, the company’s new Managing Director Shriram Bharath has said. “We have not dropped the idea and we would take up the Kerala Airlines at the appropriate time,” he said adding the aviation authorities were not issuing any fresh licenses. He said the CIAL would launch many new projects like Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO), Information Technology Park, Aviation Academy and Chartered Flight Tourism. The six-billion-rupee IT Park will be spread over 33 acres and is expected to create 15,000 jobs in a phased manner. Whether it is to be a subsidiary or a joint venture is yet to be decided.
Police Seize Computer
Police have seized a computer, said to be used by the suspected Al Badr terrorist Mohammed Fahd, during a raid at his relative’s house near Kappad in Kozhikkode Friday night. Reports from the northern city said the computer was reportedly confiscated from the house of Padannayil Kunjamina, who is the sister of Mariyam, Fahd’s stepmother. Police also raided the house of Fahd’s father Abdulla Koya, who had migrated to Pakistan in 1972. Fahd was born to his Pakistani wife. Police also detained two persons accused of helping Fahd acquire an Indian passport. The police will also be looking at the possible connection between Fahd’s visits and the twin-blasts that rocked the city in March 2006.
Running Schools No Crime
Archbishop Susaipakiyam has regretted the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s hostile attitude to minority institutions. “The Kerala government should use its powers to prevent educational institutions from committing any foul play when charging fees, and not target Christians,” the Latin Catholic Archbishop said adding that the V.S. Achuthanandan government views Christian minorities as criminals because they run educational institutions.
PM’s Security Lapse
Director General of Police Raman Srivastava said a communication error between the police officer and the driver caused the deviation of the prime minister’s motorcade from the prescribed route on the way from Thiruvananthapuram airport to Raj Bhavan last week. The pilot car was driven by a tourist taxi driver engaged by police and after the security fiasco, both the driver and the police officer sitting next to him in the car blamed each other for the lapse. The incident occurred despite clear instructions that no chances should be taken in security following an e-mail threat to the prime minister and the president.
Tourists Arrive
The first chartered flight of the season from the UK landed here yesterday heralding yet another tourist season. The 297 tourists, who arrived by a Boeing 767 aircraft of MY Travels, were treated to a gala welcome at the airport with girls in traditional attire garlanding and a round of panchavadyam greeting them. The tourists were later taken to the famed beach resort of Kovalam.
