Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has revealed that a few companies have shown interest in operating chartered flights from the state to international destinations. Speaking at the American Regional Meeting of the Loka Kerala Sabha in New York, Mr. Vijayan stated that the state government is in discussions with these companies and hopes for a positive outcome. However, approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation would be required to operate these chartered flights.
The Chief Minister also expressed his concerns about airline companies increasing fares without any justifiable reason, referring to it as unjust exploitation. Efforts to discourage such practices have not yielded successful results thus far.
Mr. Vijayan encouraged Keralites residing in the United States to consider investing in Kerala. He emphasized that trade unions in the state have never been opposed to investments, and many major companies have been operating in Kerala for several decades.
Addressing the criticism that the state is not suitable for investments, the Chief Minister attributed it to vested interests spreading propaganda. He affirmed that the government is open to exploring the creation of a platform led by the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) department, which would include various organizations representing the global Malayali diaspora. Additionally, the government will consider the demand for a cultural festival for expatriate Malayalis and the establishment of a women’s wing for the Loka Kerala Sabha.
The announcement by the Kerala Chief Minister signifies potential opportunities for enhanced air travel connectivity and investment prospects for the state.
