KOZHIKODE: Kerala has approved a proposal to establish an airline under the cooperative sector, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said, paving the way for a venture being billed as India’s first cooperative-sector carrier.

Satheesan announced the approval on Sunday while inaugurating the silver jubilee celebrations of the Calicut City Service Cooperative Society in Kozhikode, according to news agency PTI.

The proposed airline, tentatively named Co-Keralam, aims to improve regional air connectivity, provide more affordable travel options and generate employment.

Details of its proposed routes, fares and aircraft fleet have yet to be announced. No date has been announced for the start of commercial flights.

The state’s approval marks an initial step towards establishing the carrier, with the proposal yet to translate into operational services.