Dubai, UAE – The Alhind Group, a well-established Indian business conglomerate with a significant presence in the UAE, is set to launch a new airline that promises affordable air travel for residents. The group, which has been a key player in the travel industry for over three decades, has secured the necessary clearances to commence domestic airline operations in India.
According to Mohammad Haris, Chairman of the Alhind Group, the company is in the final stages of receiving approvals. “Last week, we had a meeting with officials at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), where we submitted all the required documents for landing permission,” he stated. The airline, named Alhind Airline, is expected to begin operations by January 2025, starting with three ATR-72 turboprop planes serving Indian cities.
The company has ambitious plans to expand rapidly. “Once we have 20 flights, we will begin international operations, with the UAE as our first destination,” confirmed a company spokesperson. The Middle East, particularly the UAE, will be a focal point of Alhind’s international operations, capitalizing on the group’s strong customer base in the region.
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The spokesperson highlighted that Alhind Airline aims to offer some of the lowest ticket prices in the market, catering to expatriates in the UAE. While a specific timeline for the start of international operations was not provided, the company is aiming to follow a fast-tracked approach similar to that of Akash Airline, which began international flights within 17 months of launching domestic services.
Alhind Group, headquartered in Kerala, India, operates across various sectors including ticketing, tour operations, charters, hotel bookings, and visa services. With a turnover exceeding Dh8 billion, the group has been active in the UAE for over 19 years under the Alhind Business Centre umbrella.
The group plans to operate an Airbus A320 for its Middle East routes, which will include a business class section. To maintain low costs, Alhind will employ a minimal number of staff, leveraging its existing infrastructure in Kerala and New Delhi to ensure smooth operations. An office in the UAE is also planned once international flights commence.
The airline’s launch comes amidst other regional developments in the aviation sector, including efforts by Dubai-based businessmen to launch Air Kerala, the Indian state’s first regional airline. Operating under the name Zettfly Aviation, the airline received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to operate scheduled commuter air transport services, with plans to expand internationally to destinations including Dubai.
As competition heats up in the low-cost airline market, Alhind Airline’s entry is expected to offer more choices and competitive fares for travelers, particularly those flying between India and the UAE.
