Kochi: Cashing in on the union aviation ministry's surprise gift of a three-month open air policy, foreign airlines operating from Kerala have applied for increasing frequencies during December, January and February.

The capacity increase during these month, coinciding with the Haj season and the yearend rush, will come as a boon for passengers from the state who face the problem of getting reservations during this period.

While most majors have finalised their proposals, others like Emirates will finalise it within a week. Airlines that have applied for additional frequency include Oman Air, Saudia and Qatar Airways.

Oman Air has applied for six more flights from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The flights have been proposed to connect Muscat with Kerala on every Friday during the three-month window. "The policy was announced at a short notice, hence mobilising suitable aircraft will be a problem. But still we are hopeful of getting additional flights. A similar request has been placed by Chennai and Mumbai offices, too," say Oman Air sources.

Saudia has applied for an additional flight to Jeddah. A top official of the airline says the additional flight will help tide over the shortage of seats it normally faces due to the operation of smaller aircraft. "We operate 777 instead of 747 during this period. But if we get an additional frequency, then this problem can be solved. We are also hopeful of getting a slice of the Haj traffic."

Similarly, Qatar Airways is also looking at adding two more flights to its current schedule. "It will help ease the Haj rush as well as the Christmas traffic. We have applied for the Kochi-Doha route, and if we get the nod there will be daily flights," says an official.

But Gulf Air sources say they might not apply for any additional frequency as "we have already received a sanction for operating one more flight from mid-November. It will depend on the inbound traffic. We will monitor the situation and may decide for applying a new flight later."

More airlines might have planned and requested for additional connections if the centre had announced the policy a month back. "It is not easy to mobilise an aircraft at such a short notice. But it is a bold initiative by the Indian government. We are trying our best to tap the offer," says an Emirates official.

All airlines expect an increased tourist traffic given the season in Dubai and other emirates. But it is the Haj pilgrims who will benefit the most from this. Many airlines also see this as a move by the aviation ministry to test the waters before framing the aviation policy, expected early next year.