The AlHind group, a major player in the UAE, is one of the two major airlines that have acquired the Centre’s nod to start operations in India. The approval for AlHind and FlyExpress was announced by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu in a post on X on Tuesday.
The news has brought focus on Al Hind, a Kerala-based travel, tourism, and mobility conglomerate that has many of its operations in the UAE. It was founded in the early 1990s and is currently promoted by Mohammed Haris T, a well-known name in the travel and pilgrimage services sector.
Haris, founder and general secretary of the Indian Haj Umrah Association, has a long experience in the travel and tourism industry. Born in Calicut, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and Economics and has also studied Pharmacology.
The AlHind group has a strong background in travel and tourism. It expanded its operations to the Middle East in 1995 and launched its B2B travel portal in 2014. By 2030, the group’s turnover crossed ₹20,000 crore.
According to details shared on its website, the airline is expected to be based at Kochi and is working with Cochin International Airport Limited to set up its operational hub. “The airline will begin its journey with a fleet of ATR 72- 600 model aircraft, initially focusing on providing efficient and reliable domestic air travel,” the statement said. The airline is preparing to enter the aviation sector as a regional commuter carrier, with operations expected to commence later this year.
The airline is currently in the process of securing its Air Operator Certificate, a mandatory regulatory approval before starting commercial services.
