Air Kerala, India's newest and upcoming airline based in Kerala, has revealed plans to commence its operations by June and is geared to hire captains primarily from India.
Speaking to Livemint, Harish Kutty, the CEO of Air Kerala, said there were a lot of pilots in India who would like to join the new aircraft operator. “The priority goes to the pilots from India," he said. “But there's nothing like that we wouldn't go for foreign pilots,” Harish Kutty added.
Air Kerala's first flight will take off from Kannur International Airport (KIAL). The Kerala-based aviation firm's recruitment plans come after it received the no-objection certificate from the Civil Aviation Ministry in July.
“We endeavor to get pilots from India," C S Randhawa, the vice president of operations of Air Kerala, said.
On Monday, the airline formally partnered with Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU). As part of its initial operations, Air Kerala will have a substantial number of departures from Kannur to nearby domestic destinations within a flying range of one and a half hours. "The Kannur airport will be a major player in our operational strategy," Air Kerala chairman Afi Ahmed said.
Air Kerala has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire its first three aircraft from ATR, a Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer. The airline, which plans to launch international operations in the UAE in 2026, will also consider narrow-body jets in preparation for its international debut.
However, the Kerala-based aviation chain is still awaiting its air operator certificate (AOC) from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The AOC certificate allows an operator to perform specific commercial air transport operations.
Although Air Kerala has not disclosed its maiden destination yet, it plans to commence domestic operations from Kochi to Tier II and Tier III cities in the second quarter of 2025. Thereafter, international flights are likely to follow, Dubai being the first destination, according to Air Kerala's website.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)
