Cochin Airport may float budget carrier

Cochin International Airport (CIAL), India's first international airport not controlled by the central government, may team up with some domestic airlines to launch a budget carrier for the Gulf destinations.

The new airline is likely to reserve 20 seats in each aircraft for poor NRIs who have been unable to come home for more than five years. They will be charged one-fourth of the fare.

"This may be the first venture in which an airport is partnering airlines to set up a budget airline. CIAL will talk to airlines that already have permission to fly overseas, including to the Gulf," a source said.

Jet Airways and JetLite (formerly Air Sahara) have permission to fly to the Gulf, while Air Deccan is expected to get the go-ahead by next year.

The project in part revives the earlier proposed budget carrier, Air Kerala, which was shelved as only an airline with five years of domestic experience and a fleet of 20 aircraft can fly abroad.

The Centre is planning to relax the conditions for flying overseas in the upcoming civil aviation policy, christened Vision 2020.