A year ago, there was talk of the launch of a passenger ship service between the UAE and India. The cost would be around Dh 442 and Dh 663, which is approximately INR 10,000 and INR 15,000. It was expected to revolutionize travel, especially for expats who always seek the most convenient and cost-efficient mode of travel when they visit their homeland. Despite the news, no actionable steps were taken to make this a reality, at least for now. However, two savvy Dubai-based entrepreneurs decided to further change the game by introducing Air Kerala, a new low-cost airline.
Air Kerala, co-founded by Afi Ahmed and Ayub Kallada, received its initial no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Civil Aviation Ministry of India, marking a significant step towards realising its vision. The announcement was made at a press conference in Dubai, signifying the official commencement of their plans.
With the NOC in hand, Zettfly Aviation, operating as Air Kerala, has been granted permission to operate regular commuter air services for the next three years.
Last year, Afi Ahmed, the visionary founder of Smart Travels agency, made a strategic move by acquiring the domain name airkerala.com from a local company for a substantial sum. Ahmed initially intended to create an aggregator website, but he stumbled upon this specific domain, which sparked his interest and prompted him to proceed with the purchase. This acquisition has reinvigorated the potential for Air Kerala.
Afi Ahmed and Ayub Kallada are currently working on obtaining the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) for their new venture, Air Kerala. This process involves acquiring aircraft and ensuring compliance with all the necessary regulatory requirements.
Initially, Air Kerala plans to concentrate on serving regional routes and later expand its operations to include international flights, with a focus on direct flights to Dubai and other destinations. Based in Kochi, the airline seeks to boost tourism and trade in Kerala and aims to create around 350 new employment opportunities for the local population.
The airline is planning to start operations in 2025. Initially, the service will connect Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities using three ATR 72-600 aircraft.
