Kerala plans private airline
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Kerala plans to set up its own private airline – Air Kerala. The south Indian state is likely to make a formal announcement about the new airline at
the ‘Emerging Kerala’ investment meeting, scheduled to be held from 12 September in Kochi.
The new airline will adopt a model similar model to that of Cochin International Airport. It is the first airport to be constructed with private participation, outside the ambit of Airports Authority of India (AAI). The company called ‘Air Kerala’ was already registered four years ago.
MA Yousuf Ali, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-based EMKE Group and an ex-Air India board member will play a leading role in forming the new private airline. Speaking to Emirates 24/7, Ali said he is keen to be a part of the new project from Kerala. “We will discuss the Air Kerala project along with various other infrastructure projects during the Emerging Kerala conference in September. There is enough space for a private airline from Kerala because of the vast majority of Gulf expatriates who hail from there,” he added.
The private airline is a project initiated by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in the UAE and other Gulf countries to address travel problems faced by South Indian community these countries.
