India may get another regional airline with Zettfly receiving the initial no objection certificate (NOC) from the civil aviation ministry, sources told FE.
To begin operations, Zettfly will require the security clearance of its key personnel, including the board of directors, and an operator licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
At present, India has 12 airlines across international, domestic and regional networks.
Sources told FE that high demand for air service has led to more players showing interest in the sector. However, sourcing aircraft is still a hindrance due to the global supply situation.
According to the recent data, the country’s domestic passenger traffic grew by 4.4% year-on year in May.
As per the DGCA data, the country’s scheduled domestic flight operators ferried around 13.79 million passengers in May, up from 13.21 million a year ago. On a sequential basis, 13.2 million passengers were ferried by domestic airlines in April.
Apart from high demand, sources say the success of the Udan scheme, the regional connectivity programme, is behind the start of many new airlines in India.
“Zettfly was granted NoC on July 4 for ATR 72 aircraft under the ‘schedule commuter operations’ (SCO) category,” sources told FE.
According to the company’s website, Kerala-based Zettfly aims to connect Southern regional airports.
“Our mission is to democratise air travel, making it a viable option for everyone, including those in more isolated areas,” said Afi Ahmed UPC, chairman, Zettfly Aviation.
“By offering the most competitive prices, we’re not just connecting people, but also empowering local economies. Our commitment to efficiency and customer satisfaction ensures a dependable and pleasant journey with us,” he said.