RAK Airways, a national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) operating from Ras Al Khaimah, Tuesday evinced interest in operating more flights to Kerala.

‘The airline’s top officials met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and sought support to get the clearance from the central government to operate into Kochi and the international airport here,’ E.M. Najeeb, whose travel agency handles RAK ticketing in the state, told IANS.

Currently, RAK operates seven flights a week into Kozhikode international airport in Kerala.

‘RAK officials have told Chandy that in lieu of operating into the two other state airports, they have offered any number of flights of the national carrier Air India to operate into the RAK international airport,’ Najeeb added.

S.A Saleem, president of Indian Association in Ras Al Khaimah, pointed out that around 450,000 Indians reside in the catchment area of the emirate who have no choice but to travel to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports.

‘The chief minister has assured us that he will personally take up the issue with the central government when he is in Delhi later this month,’ Najeeb said.

Source: Indo Asian News Service, IANS