Gulf countries: Flight services slowly return to normal

Kochi: Flight services from Gulf to Kochi are slowly returning to normal, with a half a dozen arrivals and eight departures scheduled for Wednesday. It was mainly flights to Muscat that operated to and from Kochi.However, the travel and tour operators said passengers are still facing difficulties in getting tickets. "A major Indian airline operator continues to cancel services after the passengers booked tickets. The airline is cancelling not only the services for the Gulf sector but also other destinations in western countries," said Paulose K Mathew, managing committee member of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFA). Meanwhile, NORKA formed six help groups for Gulf countries to ensure assistance for expatriate Keralites. These groups include NORKA department, NORKA Roots, members of the Loka Kerala Sabha in respective countries, embassy volunteers, representatives of NORKA-approved expatriate organisations, social workers and prominent individuals. Recently, an online meeting of Loka Kerala Sabha representatives from Gulf countries was convened by CM Pinarayi Vijayan. The review meeting held at NORKA centre assessed the current situation in the region, information received at help desks and urgent assistance requirements. The specially prepared NORKA regional vigilance coordination team and the activities of the six NORKA groups working to aid those in need, as well as calls and interventions received at NORKA help desk, Delhi Kerala House help desk and NORKA center control room, were evaluated in the review meeting.