Kozhikode: Kerala is set to launch its own airline in the co-operative sector, with services expected to begin by April next year.

The airline will operate under the Kerala Civil Aviation Development Co-operative Society Limited, with registration procedures scheduled to begin on Friday. The initiative is being spearheaded by C.N. Vijaya Krishnan, co-operator and Chairman of the MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute in Kozhikode.

Vijaya Krishnan said the state government has assured full support for the project and expressed confidence that operations could commence by April.

The proposal is to establish an airline in the co-operative sector by chartering aircraft. The proposed brand name for the airline is 'CoAir'. Vijaya Krishnan and his team recently met Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to discuss the project. Following the government's favourable response, the process of registering the co-operative society is now underway.

Once the society is registered, an application will be submitted to the state government to establish a public limited company under its umbrella.

The promoters plan to raise 55% of the equity from co-operative societies, with the remaining shares to be offered to the general public. The proposal envisages raising ₹2 crore each from 200 co-operative societies.

In the first phase, the airline plans to charter two aircraft. Services are expected to operate within Kerala as well as to Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Mangaluru, Chennai and Madurai.

The project also includes plans to lease small aircraft, helicopters and air ambulances. According to a letter from the Chief Minister, these assets could be deployed by the state government, the Health Department, and emergency services such as the police and fire force during emergencies.

The team has also met Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu in New Delhi and said the Centre has responded positively to the proposal.

In addition to airline operations, the company also plans to establish an aviation institute.