NEW WINGS FOR KERALA

Kochi-based travel giant Alhind Group is set to make a bold leap into operating aircraft, as its new venture, Alhind Air, prepares for take-off in late 2025 with an ATR fleet.

- NIDHI SHARMA

Kerala's aviation map is about to add a new player.

Alhind Air, born from one of the state's most prominent travel groups, is preparing to swap ticketing desks for cockpits as it builds India's newest airline. With Kochi as its home base and ATR 72-600s on order, the carrier aims to stitch together southern India's skies through short-haul routes. Its launch marks not just the arrival of another airline, but a test of whether a travel agency's deep customer networks can fuel a sustainable commuter carrier in one of India's most competitive aviation markets.

When India's aviation sector was still finding its post-pandemic balance, many industry analysts believed the next wave of growth would be regional. Major players like IndiGo, Air India Express, and Akasa had shown muscle on popular trunk routes, but The rich fabric of smaller cities such as Kochi, Kannur, Hubballi, Kozhikode, and countless others remained underserved. Into this space enters Alhind Air, a brand-new regional airline with its roots in Kerala, now preparing for takeoff in late 2025.

For two decades, Kerala-based Alhind Group has been best known as a large travel company with deep roots in the Gulf travel corridor. Now, it is preparing to flip from selling seats to operating aircraft. Its new carrier, Alhind Air, says it will launch as a regional commuter airline from Kochi with ATR 72-600 turboprops, targeting short-haul connectivity across southern India before branching out. The airline's own site frames the ambition plainly: start domestic services later this year,' scale cautiously, and build a reputation around reliability and service.