Air Kerala: Budget-Friendly Flights Get Green Light from Govt

Govt Gives Nod to Air Kerala

The low-cost airline Air Kerala has received the initial no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the airline announced at a press conference in Dubai. Air Kerala, registered under Zettfly Aviation, is the brainchild of Dubai-based businessmen Afi Ahmed and Ayub Kallada. According to a report by Khaleej Times, the airline has been granted permission to "operate scheduled commuter air transport services for three years." When the airline becomes operational, it will become Kerala's first regional airline.

Now that they have the NOC, the airline must acquire aircraft and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements to obtain the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), as stated by Kallada. He added, "This is a critical phase that ensures we meet all safety and operational standards set by the aviation authorities."

Commenting on the development, Afi Ahmed said, "This is the result of years of hard work. My partners and I have been working tirelessly to make this a reality. Several people questioned us and dismissed it, saying it would never become a reality. We still have a long way to go, but the NOC is a big step."

Reportedly, Ahmed paid a local company one million dirhams a year ago to acquire the domain name airkerala.com, sparking hopes of revitalizing the Kerala government's long-time pipe dream—Air Kerala. Speaking about immediate plans, Ahmed said, "Initially, we are planning to start operations with three ATR 72-600 aircraft. We are currently exploring options in both the leasing market and direct procurement from manufacturers to ensure we have the best possible fleet for our operations."

However, Air Kerala must first operate regionally before it can fly internationally. Its initial focus will be connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with Tier 1 and metro airports. Once its fleet expands to 20 aircraft, it will "start exploring international routes to expand our reach and service offerings," said Ahmed.Afi Ahmed