I am skeptical of any post that does not bear the author’s name – it gives a feeling that the writer simply does not believe in his own message or is a prankster at best under a smokescreen. However, since the post is supported by Mr. Oscar Lobo, I will attempt to unravel some of the mysteries of this post: First off, the whole story as related by the “anonymous author” is based on hypothesis – and therefore bears no relevance to reality. Again, the author has no inkling as to the intensity of the issues that are being raised by the Gulf Goans. Wonder if this anonymous author has ever worked/lived in the Gulf and traveled the Gulf-Goa sector by air? If not, isn’t it like attempting to dart the target in the dark? Every enterprise operates on the basis of economics, and for past decades all Gulf-India sectors have by far been amongst the highest revenue earning sectors for most airlines. The very essence that foreign airlines are competing for the Gulf-India sectors, serves as conclusive proof that the profit margins on these sectors are substantial – even in this high jet fuel price period. With million of Indians in the Gulf, Air India/Indian has been making hefty margins from various Gulf sectors, and if there is a loss in revenue on this single Gulf-Goa sector, (which is highly doubtful) then some arrangement should be worked out rather than ceasing the operations on the Dubai-Goa sector.The NRI Gulf Goans have increasingly contributed to the rising Goan economy – by remitting their earnings home to Goa/India. This alone provides sufficient reason and rights to ask the Goa Government’s intervention and reinstatement of the DXB-GOI flight which as we see abruptly ceased to operate. It is an amusing proposition that the anonymous author puts it thus: <“Our good friends in the Gulf countries seem to think that just because they are there in large numbers, they have a right to pester the Government and other agencies to provide them with transportation of their convenience and choice.”>Our good “anonymous” friend does not realize that the rise and fall of Governments are fundamentally based on “Numbers” involving people that support or oppose them. Now, imagine the huge numbers of Goans that are in the Gulf – furthermore imagine the majority of Gulf Goans calling upon their friends/families and relatives at home to make or break the Government come election time.Re:<”To me it appears that they think of airlines as a service similar to Kadamba provided by the Government.” – anonymous author>Primarily, Kadamba transport and Indian airlines serve the same purpose – in that both are public transportation services –– the difference I find it’s more of a hassle to travel Air India /Indian airlines than the Kadamba, given the airlines unreliable services, discomfort and flight cancellations; — by and large the services of the “Kadamba Express” are comparatively prompt and efficient. (FTR, I have traveled on all three of the above). Given the choice, I am sure the Gulf Goans wouldn’t mind traveling the “Kadamba Express” if it had “Airlines” attached to it. ;)Good day!Joe VazSub: [Goanet] Goa-Gulf-Goa direct flightsI was sent the below mentioned thought by one of the Goans in Melbourne in respect to the thread on direct flights to the Gulf countries.
I believe in the contents as anyone having a business acumen will agree. Kindly publish it on the goanet perhaps as a food for thought to those Goans who are striving hard to get a flight to and from Goa. Thank you. Warm Regards Oscar Melbourne, Australia ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello Oscar, I have been following with interest a discussion thread going on Goanet, about direct flights to the Gulf countries. A lot of opinions and comments have been thrown into the discussion by quite a lot of people, which I think is just a little wrong. Let us begin by asking ourselves the question: What is the prime motive of any business, as compared to the function of a Government? The answer is quite simple and not hard to comprehend. A business house is set up to make profits for its shareholders, while the function of a Government is to provide service to its people. If at all Air India, Indian Airlines or any other airline initiated a direct Gulf Goa flight, it was done at the time because it was commercially viable for them. Today the business equation must have changed, and as a result, they may have made a decision to withdraw the concerned service. Our good friends in the Gulf countries seem to think that just because they are there in large numbers, they have a right to pester the Government and other agencies to provide them with transportation of their convenience and choice. There is need for a change in mindset. To me it appears that they think of airlines as a service similar to Kadamba provided by the Government. Air India was started by Tata's and the Government decided to nationalize the airline company. That was a wrong decision right from the start. As a Government owned airline, it had no choice but to provide service as explained in para #2 above. Service, which could have been at a loss of profit. Today Air India is no longer in the same predicament as it was then, so the management must have decided in the best interest of its shareholders to withdraw the service. I see nothing wrong with that decision. The shareholders always come first. So what do our Gulfies do? Maybe they could pool their resources and start an air taxi service of their own! And if that happens, I can guarantee you that after the euphoria of setting up their company is down, these blokes will make a decision to seek more profitable routes themselves!!! Cheers _________________________________________________________________ No Harvard, No Oxford. We are here. Find out !! http://ss1.richmedia.in/recurl.asp?pid=500
