India's First Cooperative-Sector Airline: Kerala Government Approves Flight Services Project

The State of Kerala has given its consent to an initiative of the Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society to start air service, informed Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan. The initiative was announced at the silver jubilee function of the Calicut City Service Cooperative Society in Kozhikode, and described as a pioneering one for India’s cooperative sector. C. N. Vijayakrishnan, chairman of MVR Cancer Centre, is the Project Leader.

India’s First Cooperative Airline Initiative

This airline initiative is aimed at showcasing how cooperative entities could move beyond their traditional business areas like banking, agriculture and community development.

The government of Kerala has granted approval to the Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society to provide flight services in a declaration made on 25 October 2026 and published the next day.

Detailed information mentioned below,

State: Kerala
Initiative: India’s first cooperative-sector airline
Cooperative organization: Kerala Civil Aviation Development Cooperative Society
Announced by: V. D. Satheesan, Chief Minister of Kerala
Project leader: C. N. Vijayakrishnan
Institution affiliated: MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute
Venue of the announcement: Silver jubilee celebration of Calicut City Service Cooperative Society, Kozhikode
Status: Government approval announced; operational launch still to come

Airline Name and Flight Plans Proposed

According to a recent report, the name being considered for this airline is “Co-Keralam.” As per the initial plan, the airline was to lease two aircraft seating 72 passengers and operate flights from Kochi to Kozhikode, Kannur, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai.

As per the previous plan, the airlines were also to be funded by some 200 cooperative societies, each one to invest ₹2 crore. These are just the project plans being considered.

About Indian Cooperative Sector

Cooperative society is a voluntary association of individuals who come together in order to achieve their common economic, social or cultural goals. The individuals become the part of the organization and take part in its activities as per cooperative laws.

Some of the sectors in which the cooperatives run in India include,

Banking & credit: Financial assistance provided to the members of the cooperative and communities.
Agriculture: Credit, marketing, processing, supply and other services provided to farmers.
Dairy: Milk and milk products marketing and processing.
Consumer services: Supply of goods and services to members.
Infrastructure and development: Involvement in community-based projects.