Air Kerala seals leadership team, aims to take off by June 2025 – CNBC TV18



Upcoming airline Air Kerala promoted by Dubai-based entrepreneurs Afi Ahmed and Ayub Kallada has roped in more industry professionals to head key positions as it builds the senior management team with 17 post holders, with an aim to begin operations in the first half of 2025.

Company Value Change %Change

CEO Harish Kutty, who formerly worked with SpiceJet, told CNBC-TV18 that the airline is finalising regulatory requirements to secure Air Operator Certificate from the DGCA.

“The first aircraft arrives in April 2025, second aircraft in June. Hoping to start first commercial flight in June 2025,” Kutty said adding that the airline will have six aircraft by the first quarter of 2026, one aircraft every three months.

The regional airline has appointed Kirti Rao, Former Executive Director of Finance at Air India, as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Shamon Pattavathukkal Sayyid Muhammad, who has previously worked at SpiceJet and Air India, will oversee Ground Operations.
James George, former Deputy Director of Airworthiness at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), will join Air Kerala as Quality Manager to ensure the airline meets safety and quality standards.

Pararthaparambil Rangaraja Mallya Kamalesh has been appointed to manage the maintenance and airworthiness of the fleet.

The regional startup carrier that plans to offer ultra-low-cost fares had previously announced appointments of Indian Pilots Federation President Captain CS Randhawa as VP-Operations and former BCAS officer Captain Ashutosh Vashishth as VP- Security.

Kutty further revealed that all key positions are filled with some executives like the Chief Pilot, Head of In-flight service, safety, training, IT and HR recruited from other airlines and are currently serving their notice periods.

The commercial staff and cockpit crew will join closer to aircraft arrival, he said.

“If we are starting with 3 ATR aircraft, we will have a staff of 300 people including senior management, crew and security staff,” Kutty added.


Leave a Reply

STOP LOOSING your hard earned money
Subscribe now to get free demo ID of our software.
Learn Best Intraday Trading Tricks Now !!
    Get Free Demo ID Now
    I agree with the term and condition
    Verified by MonsterInsights