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The Chief Executive Officer of RAK Airways of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) met with the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, and other Ministers here on Wednesday.
The airline presented a business case for itself in the State and sought support for operating more flights to destinations in India, an official spokesperson said.
LARGE COMMUNITY
Presence of a large Indian community in Ras Al Khaimah, as also potential tourism and business prospects, make up a strong case for better connectivity, Mr Omar Jahameh, Chief Executive Officer, RAK Airways, said.
He said that the initial meetings with the Kerala Chief Minister and key Government officials were very productive. RAK Airways re-launched its operations less than a year ago, which have proved profitable over a short period of time, he said.
“We have witnessed growing demand from all sectors of the UAE community from within and even beyond the border. We have since expanded the network to six destinations, which include Kozhikode, Jeddah, Cairo, Dhaka, Doha and Chittagong.”
HEAVY DEMAND
Due to the heavy demand, the frequency of flights to Kozhikode has been increased to five flights a week from its initial three.
The attractive UAE Visa package along with low fares has proved popular with the Indian expatriate community. RAK is now seeking permission to operate to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala along with other strategic Indian destinations.
Representatives from various associations, including the Indian Association in Ras Al Khaimah, have made clear their desire for more connections to Kerala, among other destinations in India.
The Ras Al Khaimah airport is already fully equipped to operate International flights, but a refurbishment and upgrade programme is underway.
Investment potential
The UAE is an excellent investment destination for India, Mr Jahameh said. Already, more than 1,000 Indian companies are operating out of Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone alone.
Investments from Ras Al Khaimah to India too is on the rise with ceramic tiles manufacturer, RAK Ceramics, announcing plans to invest Rs 500 crore in a new manufacturing facility in Gujarat.
RAK Investment Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding for a joint venture with the Andhra Pradesh Government to set up an alumina refinery plant and an aluminium smelter in Andhra Pradesh.
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