Air Kerala, the airline founded by Dubai-based entrepreneurs Afi Ahmed and Ayub Kallada, has received the initial no-objection certificate (NOC) from the ministry of civil aviation.
According to reports in The Khaleej Times, the airline, which is registered under the name Zettfly Aviation, has been granted permission to “operate scheduled commuter air transport services for three years”.
The NOC was confirmed at a press conference on 8 July, 2024.
In an interview with newspaper, Air Kerala founder Ayub Kallada said: “This is a critical phase that ensures we meet all safety and operational standards set by the aviation authorities.
“This is the result of years of our 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.
“Our next steps involve acquiring aircraft and complying with the necessary regulatory requirements to obtain our Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). This is a critical phase that ensures we meet all safety and operational standards set by the aviation authorities.”
Detailing plans for the airline's future, Kallada explained that they plan to start operations with “three ATR 72-600 aircraft, exploring both leasing and direct procurement options to ensure an optimal fleet.
“Air Kerala will initially focus on connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with Tier 1 and metro airports”.
Once the fleet expands to 20 aircraft, they will “start exploring international routes to expand our reach and service offerings”.
Air Kerala gets approval from Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation
