30.7.12

Air Kerala ?

Chief minister Oommen Chandy has demanded that the centre should permit relaxation in norms for the state’s attempt to launch its own airline so as to provide adequate travel facilities for Keralites in the Gulf countries. 
Answering the submission brought by V D Satheesan based on rule 304 of the rules of business of the assembly, he said that the state was concerned about Air India’s current state of affairs. As an alternative method to provide a systematic service especially aiming at the immigrants from the state to the Gulf countries, the state had come up with the idea of its own airline service. 

“The state has already initiated steps to float the new company titled Air Kerala. The matter has not gone forward due to two norms – that only a company owning a fleet of 20 flights will be allowed to operate international services and a minimum of five years domestic operation was necessary before international operations,” he said. 
He said that Kerala was the only state in the country, which had mooted such an 
idea and it should be given special consideration given the necessity and the motive behind the idea, he said. 
The chief minister said that the state was not aware of a move to shift the headquarters of Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Air India from Kochi. The headquarters of the Air India Express was shifted to Kochi while union minister Vayalar Ravi was holding the civil aviation portfolio. 

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