Kerala mulls starting ferry service for Gulf Malayalis

“The service might not be attractive because of the longer travel involved. But we are willing to suffer losses and begin a ship service. Our hope is that at least such a move will put pressure on Air India and other airlines that are fleecing the poor Gulf Malayalis,” the Chief Minister said in the Assembly on Wednesday.

He was responding to a submission moved by Congress member Palode Ravi. “The poor Malayalis working in labour camps are forced to spend their savings on purchasing a ticket.

Air India charges Rs 55,000-75,000 a ticket during season time. It amounts to looting,” Mr Ravi said. The Chief Minister termed the rates “indecent”. The state’s plans to begin its own air services, Air Kerala, has been scuttled by stipulations put forward by the Civil Aviation Ministry.

One is that the state should have at least five years experience in domestic operations for starting international services. Another is that, the state should have a fleet of 20.

“We have told both the previous and the present Central government’s, that the condition of domestic operations would be financially unviable. As for the second one, we said we could have only five aircrafts as our starting fleet,” the Chief Minister said.