Kochi-headquartered Air Kerala still awaits take-off; India-Russia turboprop deal may change things

Air Kerala is among the regional Indian airlines expected to receive deliveries of regional turboprop aircraft under a proposed joint manufacturing partnership between India and Russia. The arrangement offers a boost to the Kochi-headquartered startup as it seeks to launch regional flights.

On Thursday, India’s Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held discussions in New Delhi with Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov. Their talks focused on expanding an existing agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation for the licensed production of passenger planes. The proposed cooperation covers aircraft models such as the IL-114 turboprop and the Sukhoi Superjet 100, aimed at enhancing domestic regional connectivity. Crucially, the ongoing negotiations include supply arrangements for 105 regional turboprop planes destined for domestic carriers, including Air Kerala, Pinnacle Air, and Sleek Aviation.

Severe shortages stalling takeoff

This fresh momentum arrives after months of operational hurdles for the Kochi-headquartered carrier. Air Kerala previously obtained key regulatory approvals, including a no-objection certificate from aviation authorities and its official airline code 'KD' from the International Air Transport Association. However, the airline could not begin scheduled flights due to a severe global shortage of passenger planes and delays in manufacturer deliveries.

Past media reports detailed how global leasing firms tightened their requirements, demanding substantial upfront security deposits that created steep barriers for new entrants. Furthermore, leasing companies became cautious about exposure to the Indian market following high-profile domestic airline failures.

Financing and geopolitical headwinds

Geopolitical conflicts in West Asia and broader financial uncertainties also disrupted investment flows and squeezed funding pipelines. These compounding pressures forced Air Kerala to repeatedly postpone its initial launch plans despite having established its operational base at Cochin International Airport.

Industry experts previously noted that securing aircraft remained the primary bottleneck for new airlines, leaving carriers waiting for fleet availability to begin operations. The proposed delivery of turboprop planes through the India-Russia manufacturing collaboration now provides a vital pathway to overcome these fleet constraints.