New Indian carrier Air Kerala closer to launch with plans to expand to UAE by 2026

Plans for a new Indian airline, Air Kerala, are gaining ground with the company now targeting the launch of its domestic operations in the first quarter of next year and expand internationally by 2026, the UAE-based businessman spearheading the company has said. The company behind the airline, Zettfly Aviation, has received the initial no-objection certificate (NOC) from India’s Civil Aviation Ministry to operate air transport services, its chairman Afi Ahmed told The National. "The first step is the NOC, it's one of the biggest tasks and that task is now covered," he said. The next steps will be to focus on the technical aspects, flights, contracts for the engineering companies, with all of that expected to be fulfilled in "around six to eight months". Being set up as an "ultra low-cost airline", Air Kerala plans to start out with three ATR 72-600 aircraft and grow its fleet to 20 for international expansion.<br/>