Aviation giant Boeing Friday expressed interest in helping set up a new airline called Air Kerala in keeping with the plans of the state government.


Dinesh A. Keskar, a senior vice-president with Boeing, told reporters here: "Yes, I have come to know that the Kerala government is keen to start an airline and we at Boeing would only be pleased to associate with it to give all support for it by conducting studies and also providing advice."

Keskar was in the city to take part in the launch of the Air-India Express flight to Abu Dhabi from here.

The Kerala government is now seriously thinking of floating its own airline and several cash rich non-resident Keralites have expressed their willingness to contribute to a company under public-private participation.

"We have been in this business for the past 60 years and we also manufacture aircraft which have a seating capacity from 100 to 450. Moreover, feasibility studies are a must before launching such ventures and we are competent enough to do such studies for the Kerala government," said Keskar.