Low-cost airline Air Kerala secures NOC from civil aviation ministry, plans regional launch in 2025
New Delhi: Air Kerala, a new airline planned by a UAE-based company, is set to launch in early 2025. Based in Kochi, Kerala, the airline aims to connect routes within the state and other tier II and III cities in India using ATR-72 turboprop aircraft.
Air Kerala revives a two-decade-old ambition of Kerala having its own airline. The airline, promoted by UAE-based businessmen Afi Ahmed and Ayub Kallada, has received initial no-objection clearance from the civil aviation ministry. The airline hopes to start operations in the first quarter of 2025 with three ATR-72 aircraft and an initial investment of ₹60-100 crore. Key post holders have been identified, and the airline will soon apply for an air operator permit.
The airline has drafted a connectivity blueprint for 53 airports and plans to hire 350 personnel during its inaugural year of operations. It will target routes within Kerala and cities such as Salem, Madurai, Hubli, and Pune based on traffic demand. Kerala, currently home to four airports (Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Thiruvananthapuram), sees more international traffic than domestic. However, domestic traffic is also growing, with Thiruvananthapuram witnessing a 40% rise in domestic passengers over the past year, the highest among the four airports.
Managing operating costs and competing with established airlines flying larger capacity planes are significant challenges for Air Kerala. A former CEO of a budget airline noted that state support in terms of cost concessions and revenue guarantees could aid the fledgling business. Limited intra-state air traffic exists, with IndiGo operating a single daily flight on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kochi-Kannur route and Air India Express flying twice weekly between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur. Marketing tie-ups with tourist attractions and wellness centers in Kerala could benefit the airline.
Operating with ATR-72 aircraft could be challenging due to the limitation of capacity and competitive fares. Achieving yields for viable and sustainable operations amidst entrenched competition from airlines operating with A320/B737 aircraft is crucial. Additionally, the availability of trains connecting major cities in Kerala poses another challenge. Industry experts believe that government support through cost concessions and guaranteed revenue could help Air Kerala establish itself in the market.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
