In a significant development set to revolutionize air travel for Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), two Dubai-based businessmen have launched a new low-cost airline called Air Kerala. The airline recently received its initial no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Civil Aviation Ministry of India.
Entrepreneurs Ayub Kallada and Afi Ahmed spearheaded the initiative, aiming to provide affordable flights for Indian expats traveling to their home state of Kerala, located in southern India. The airline, registered under Zett Fly Aviation Private Limited, has been granted permission to operate scheduled commuter air transport services for the next three years.
“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 for us,” Afi Ahmed was quoted by Khaleej Times.
Notably, Afi Ahmed, founder of Smart Travels, purchased the airkerala.com domain for 1 million Dirhams in 2023 to revive hopes for the long-awaited project, first proposed by the Kerala government in 2005.
With the NOC in hand, the airline will undertake months of groundwork before launching its flights. The focus now is on acquiring aircraft and meeting regulatory requirements to obtain its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). The initial plan involves starting operations with three ATR 72-600 aircraft, with options for both leasing and direct purchase from manufacturers.
“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,” Afi Ahmed said.
Air Kerala plans to expand to international routes once the fleet grows to 20 aircraft, with Dubai being one of the first international destinations. “Our goal is to provide affordable travel for expats,” added Afi Ahmed.
Additionally, the airline aims to connect Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with Tier 1 and metro airports to improve accessibility and convenience for travelers across these regions.
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