Panaji; Nov 16, 2014 …. Air India has announced daily direct flight from Goa to Muscat via Mumbai w.e.f. November 16, 2014.
Dr. Wilfered Menezes Mesquita, Commissioner for NRI Affairs had taken up the matter with the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. P. Ashok Gajapathi Raj for commencement of direct flight from Goa to Muscat and back recently.
The Goan Community of Oman had been pursuing with the NRI commission the long standing demand of Goans gainfully employed in Muscat and other cities in the Sultanate of Oman for a direct flight, so as to avoid hassles of transfer from Domestic to International terminal and completing immigration and customs formalities at Mumbai Airport before taking connecting flight to Muscat.
The introduction of this flight will enable passengers to complete their immigration and customs formalities and check baggage through to Muscat at Dabolim Airport, Goa itself. Flight number AI – 983 will land at T-2 International Airport in Mumbai and passengers will be accommodated in the Transit Lunge till departure of their flight to Muscat.
This would also connect to other international destinations like Hongkong, Abudhabi, Bangkok, Singapore and New York on this flight.
The NRI Commission had received similar request from Goan Associations in Kuwait and other gulf countries for introduction of additional flights in view of the Exposition of the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier scheduled from November 22, 2014 to January 4, 2015. Against this background, the Commissioner for NRI Affairs has sought indulgence of the Union Minister for Civil Aviation to permit operation of additional flights to Goa from various gulf countries during the above period of festive season.
One such airline which has already announced introduction of daily direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Goa and back is Jet Airways w.e.f Friday November 14, 2014.
