With air fares on the key Gulf-Kerala sector remaining high, the Kerala Government is planning to launch a joint venture low-cost airline.
Gulf-based Indian businessmen have promised to help the government on the move. "It will most probably be known as Kerala Airlines and will be the cheapest in the Gulf. The feasibility study has already been completed," said M.K. Yousuf Ali, managing director of the Emke Group. Ali is also a director of Cochin International Airport.
Ali said the new airline would be a joint venture between the Government of Kerala and the airport. "It will be exclusively for the Gulf. Once launched it will bring a great relief to the Keralities, as the rates will be much lower than other low-cost airlines operating in the sector," he said.
The proposal is currently with the Kerala Cabinet.
"Hopefully, by next week it will be approved by the Kerala Government and then it will be sent to the federal government for final approval and formalities," he said.
The launch of the new airline was also hinted at by Oomen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala, at the fourth Malayalee conference held last week in Qatar.
Keralities in the UAE expressed their support for the proposed airline. Y.A. Rahim, president of the Indian Association Sharjah, said: "It's a good step from the government ... With a number of budget airlines now willing to operate in the Gulf-Kerala sector the monopoly of Indian national carriers will be broken."
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