The Kerala government agency for non-residents, Roots-Norka, has demanded an open skies policy for the Middle East sector to facilitate better air services.
"We are forced to demand an open skies policy so that there is competition like in the European sector because the Middle East is at present the monopoly of Air-India," Roots-Norka chairman M.M. Hassan said.
Non-resident Keralites have been demanding since the last two decades that Air-India better its services on the Gulf route but nothing has happened, he said.
"When there is competition, Air-India will be forced to better its services," said Hassan, a former minister and Congress legislator.
He was speaking to reporters here on his return from a weeklong visit of Saudi Arabia. He criticised the national carrier for frequently delayed flights because of technical failures and other reasons.
"The Kerala government has taken up this issue several times and we will do so again. We do not even mind a confrontation with Air-India because it has crossed all limits," said Hassan.