Air Kerala has received the initial no-objection certificate (NOC) from India's Civil Aviation Ministry.
The new low-cost airline, registered under the name Zettfly Aviation, has been granted permission to "operate scheduled commuter air transport services for three years", as reported by Khaleej Times.
Air Kerala, set to become Kerala's first regional airline, is founded by Dubai-based entrepreneurs Afi Ahmed and Ayub Kallada.
To commence operations, Air Kerala must now acquire aircraft and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements to obtain the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). Ayub Kallada said, "This is a critical phase that ensures we meet all safety and operational standards set by the aviation authorities."
The airline's immediate plans are to start operations with three ATR 72-600 aircraft. Air Kerala will initially focus on connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with Tier 1 and metro airports. They will explore international routes after the fleet expands to 20 aircraft.
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