Mangalore to Dubai flight service was launched by Jet Airways on January 10. The flight is six times a week. Jet Airways is the first private carrier to operate from Mangalore to Dubai. Currently, the public sector carrier, Air India Express, operates flights from Mangalore to various destinations in West Asia.    

Addressing presspersons on the occasion, Gaurang Shetty, Senior vice-president (Commercial) of Jet Airways, said that the flight service between Mangalore and Dubai will help strengthen the connectivity of Jet Airways from tier-II Indian destinations into West Asia.    

He said that the inaugural economy class return fare of Rs 20,360 onwards is being offered on the Mangalore-Dubai-Mangalore route. The airlines will operate direct flight from Mangalore to Dubai six times a week, he said.    

Jet Airways currently operates daily direct flights to Dubai from Delhi, and four services a day from Mumbai.  He said that Mangalore was the third destination to be connected when Jet launched its operation in the domestic market on May 5, 1993.    

Launching the service from Mangalore, Jayaprakash Hegde, Member of Parliament from Udupi, said that there is a demand from NRIs to operate flights to Saudi Arabia from Mangalore.