11 August 2012
Muscat: In a move to ease the woes of non-resident Indians (NRIs) who travel between Kerala and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the south Indian state is getting ready to soon launch its own airline 'Air Kerala', an Indian Parliament member said here yesterday.
"We are aware of the travel woes faced by the NRIs, especially those who travel to Kerala from the GCC.
During peak seasons, they have shell out huge amounts to purchase air tickets. So, the government of Kerala is moving ahead to start its own airline,- E. T. Mohammed Bashir, the Indian parliament member, told Times of Oman in Muscat.
The company, named Air Kerala, was registered in India around four years ago. The new airline will follow the same model that was adopted while setting up the Cochin International Airport -" the first airport in India that was constructed with private participation, outside the ambit of the Airports Authority of India.
"The airline project is ready and is waiting for its approval from the central government. Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy has held talks with the central government for the airline. The airline will be launched in public -private partnership model,- the parliamentarian said, adding that funds for the project "will not be a problem-.
There are reports that the formal announcement of the commencement of the new airline is expected at the 'Emerging Kerala' investment meeting, scheduled to be held from September 12.
The parliamentarian was in Muscat to attend an Iftar organised by the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre in Ruwi.
The proposal of starting a budget airline, was first floated at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi five years ago.
But it was not granted permission by the Central government as the proposal did not meet the criteria of the existing provisions which permit an Indian carrier to operate International services -" a minimum fleet size of 20 aircraft and experience of five years of continuous operations in the domestic sector.
Muscat: In a move to ease the woes of non-resident Indians (NRIs) who travel between Kerala and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the south Indian state is getting ready to soon launch its own airline 'Air Kerala', an Indian Parliament member said here yesterday.
"We are aware of the travel woes faced by the NRIs, especially those who travel to Kerala from the GCC.
During peak seasons, they have shell out huge amounts to purchase air tickets. So, the government of Kerala is moving ahead to start its own airline,- E. T. Mohammed Bashir, the Indian parliament member, told Times of Oman in Muscat.
The company, named Air Kerala, was registered in India around four years ago. The new airline will follow the same model that was adopted while setting up the Cochin International Airport -" the first airport in India that was constructed with private participation, outside the ambit of the Airports Authority of India.
"The airline project is ready and is waiting for its approval from the central government. Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy has held talks with the central government for the airline. The airline will be launched in public -private partnership model,- the parliamentarian said, adding that funds for the project "will not be a problem-.
There are reports that the formal announcement of the commencement of the new airline is expected at the 'Emerging Kerala' investment meeting, scheduled to be held from September 12.
The parliamentarian was in Muscat to attend an Iftar organised by the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre in Ruwi.
The proposal of starting a budget airline, was first floated at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi five years ago.
But it was not granted permission by the Central government as the proposal did not meet the criteria of the existing provisions which permit an Indian carrier to operate International services -" a minimum fleet size of 20 aircraft and experience of five years of continuous operations in the domestic sector.
© Times of Oman 2012
