Jump to content

Cochin International Airport

Coordinates: 10°09′12.00″N 76°23′17.39″E / 10.1533333°N 76.3881639°E / 10.1533333; 76.3881639
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Kochi International Airport)

Cochin International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic-private partnership (PPP)
Owner/Operator
ServesKochi
LocationNedumbassery, Kochi, Kerala, India
Opened10 June 1999; 25 years ago (1999-06-10)
Focus city forAir India
Operating base for
Elevation AMSL9 m / 30 ft
Coordinates10°09′12.00″N 76°23′17.39″E / 10.1533333°N 76.3881639°E / 10.1533333; 76.3881639
Websitewww.cial.aero
Map
COK/VOCI is located in Kerala
COK/VOCI
COK/VOCI
COK/VOCI is located in India
COK/VOCI
COK/VOCI
COK/VOCI is located in Asia
COK/VOCI
COK/VOCI
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 3,445 11,302 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
m ft
H1 19 63 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2023 - March 2024)
Passengers10,365,655 (Increase 17.6%)
Aircraft movements67,469 (Increase 15.8%)
Cargo tonnage59,974 (Increase 5.6%)
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

Cochin International Airport (IATA: COK, ICAO: VOCI) — popularly known as Kochi International Airport, Kochi Airport or Nedumbassery Airport — is an international airport serving the city of Kochi, Kerala, in southwestern India. It is located at Nedumbassery, about 25 km (16 mi) northeast of the city center. The airport is the first of its kind to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model in India. This project was funded by nearly 10,000 non-resident Indians from 32 countries.[4] It is the busiest and largest airport in the state of Kerala. As of 2024, the airport caters to more than 63% of the total air passenger traffic in Kerala.[5] It is the fifth-busiest airport in India in terms of international traffic,[6] and the eighth-busiest overall.

In fiscal year 2023–2024, the airport handled more than 10.3 million passengers with a total of 67,469 aircraft movements.[5][1] As of 2024, the airport is served by over 25 airline companies, carrying passengers to 31 international destinations and 22 domestic destinations.

The airport operates three passenger terminals and one cargo terminal with a total area of over 225,000 square metres (2,421,880 sq ft).[7] In 2015, the airport became the world's first fully solar-powered airport with the inauguration of a dedicated solar plant.[8][9] For this entrepreneurial vision, the airport won the coveted Champion of the Earth award in 2018, the highest environmental honour instituted by the United Nations.[10] The airport was awarded The Best Airport in Asia-Pacific in 2020 (5 to 15 million passengers per year) by Airports Council International.[11]

History

[edit]

Kochi's airport began as an airstrip on Willingdon Island, built in 1936 by the Kingdom of Cochin, intended for transporting officials involved in the development of the Cochin Port. The Kingdom of Cochin allowed the British, who ruled India at the time, to convert the airstrip into a military airport for use by the Indian Navy during World War II. The Royal Navy chose it as a strategic site for their headquarters in Southern India and as an air station cum landing craft and seaplane base.[12] The military facility hosted naval fighter planes and was intended to thwart possible Japanese air raids.[13] A small naval unit set up operations just two days before the outbreak of World War II.[14]

After India achieved dominion status and the merger of the Kingdom of Cochin with India, the Indian Navy operated the airport, though it permitted civilian aircraft to use the facility. The Gulf economic boom of the 1980s made it necessary to develop international connections to Kochi in the interests of expatriates working in the Middle East.[15]

Construction

[edit]
The airport was constructed right by the Periyar river, seen from a landing plane.

The original proposal for the airport outlined an estimated cost of 1 billion (US$12 million) and an expected date of commission in 1997. Approval was granted in May 1993. The funding was envisaged to be from interest-free loans from non-resident Indians working abroad, donations from industrial undertakings, exporters, cooperative societies and loans from the state government. A body called the Cochin International Airport Society, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Kerala K. Karunakaran, was registered in July 1993 to execute the project. To better fund mobilisation, as well as an administrative convenience, a public limited company under the name Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) was registered in March 1994 with an authorised capital of 900 million (US$11 million).[16]

In 1996, E. K. Nayanar took over as chairman of the CIAL project. The construction picked up momentum during this period and Nayanar ensured that the airport project received special attention from the State Government and gave his unstinted support to CIAL. By 1997, substantial land was taken into CIAL possession through negotiated settlements.[17] A total of 491 ha (1,213 acres) of land was acquired for the construction of the airport.[18] Approximately 2,300 landowners and 872 families were resettled under a rehabilitation package.[19] Major electric lines and an irrigation canal had to be diverted. The facility was formally inaugurated by the then President of India, K. R. Narayanan on 25 May 1999 and the first commercial service began on 10 June 1999. The operations from the old naval airport were moved to CIAL on 1 July 1999.[20]

Expansion

[edit]

Phase 1

[edit]

The airport had 18,580 m2 (200,000 sq ft) of floor space at its inauguration. CIAL envisioned four phases of expansion over 20 years, the third phase of which was completed in 2009. The original airport terminal was envisioned to handle just 100 passengers at a time. However, by 2001, the international passenger traffic was growing, making it necessary to redevelop the terminal.[citation needed]

In 2002, the floor area for the international operations of the original building rose due to the completion of a separate domestic terminal, shifting all domestic operations there.[citation needed]

Phase 2

[edit]
Airport main entrance
A lifelike elephant statue at the arrivals section

With a rising number of airlines operating at the airport, CIAL decided to construct an exclusive terminal for domestic operations, namely Terminal 2, making the international one Terminal 1, increasing the floor space for international operations by 37,161 m2 (400,000 sq ft). As part of the second phase of the expansion plans, an airline center complex of 7,500 m2 (81,000 sq ft) was constructed on the western side of the terminal to accommodate the airline and CIAL's administrative offices. The cargo terminal was also expanded in the second phase.[citation needed]

Phase 3

[edit]

Work on the third phase was intended to accommodate 5 million passenger movements annually and was started in 2007.[21] The third phase involved the commissioning of a central block, connecting the domestic and international terminals and enlarging the airside area to accommodate more gates and waiting areas along with increased shopping areas. This increased the built-up area by another 29,700 m2 (320,000 sq ft).[22] The airside area of the international arrivals and departures blocks were integrated and glass walls were installed to allow for more natural light. The runway was re-surfaced in 2008.[23] The number of parking areas was increased from 15 to 24, including three dedicated for cargo airlines. The third phase also completed the expansion of the cargo village and a second aircraft taxiway to the MRO facility.[24][25]

Phase 4

[edit]

The fourth phase of expansion was originally planned to upgrade the domestic terminal, which has remained untouched in the past three phases.[26][27] However, the expansion plans were changed after the new UDF government took over the administration of the state in May 2011.[citation needed]

As per the revised plans, the international terminal is to face a major renovation before being converted completely into a domestic terminal, while a new state-of-the-art international terminal is coming up. As per the new plans announced by the board of directors in September 2011, the new international terminal would come up on the eastern side of the existing structure. The built-up space of the new terminal would be 140,000 m2 (1,500,000 sq ft) having segregated departures and arrivals at different levels.[28][29][30][31] The new terminal with an elevation featuring Kerala temple architecture will have all the latest features of international standards. Construction major Larsen & Toubro is building the facility which will be ready within 30 months. The two-level terminal will have provisions for 112 check-in counters, with in-line baggage screening facilities, 100 immigration counters, 3,716 square metres (40,000 sq ft) of duty-free shops at departure and arrival lounges, 19 boarding gates, 15 aerobridges, six baggage conveyor belts and fully covered alighting and boarding area.[32]

The current domestic terminal would be converted into an "Executive Pavilion" and would handle VIP and private chartered flights and jets. The current international terminal once converted into a domestic terminal, will have 5 aerobridges and 10 boarding gates, apart from increased parking bays.[citation needed]

Management

[edit]

Cochin International Airport is the first in India to be built by a public-private partnership and is owned by a public limited company called Cochin International Airport Limited, better known as CIAL, created by the Government of Kerala in 1994. The Government of Kerala holds a 33.36% stake, making it the single largest investor in the project.[33] Indian government companies like Air India, BPCL and AAI hold an 8.74% stake, while foreign companies like Abu Dhabi based Emke Group, the Oman-based Galfar Group, UAE based Majeed Bukatara Trading holds a 5.42% stake. Indian companies hold 8.57% stake, while scheduled commercial banks like Federal Bank, SBT and Canara Bank holds 5.91%.[34][35] The remaining 38.03% stake is held by more than 10,000 personal investors from 29 countries, mostly non-resident Indians.[36]

The company has decided to go for a public offering and give 10 million shares to HUDCO as part of a debt settlement, which would to lead HUDCO having a 3.37% stake in the company and a reduction of the stake of other holders.[34]

The Chief Minister of Kerala is the ex-officio chairman of CIAL.[37]

Terminals

[edit]
Terminal 1 at CIAL

Cochin International Airport has three main terminals: two domestic and one international. There is also a cargo terminal.

Check-in counters at Terminal 1
Check-in counters at Terminal 2
Terminal 3 departure area
Inside the Terminal 3 departure area, with statues depicting the famous Thrissur Pooram festival

Terminal 1 (Domestic)

[edit]

Terminal 1 used to be an international terminal until the operations were shifted to the new international Terminal 3. The terminal underwent a massive upgrade and renovation after that, which took its total handling capacity to 4,000 passengers per hour which is 5 times the previous capacity. The renovated Terminal 1 was opened to travellers on 12 December 2018.[38]

With a total built-up area of 55,742 m2 (600,000 sq ft),[38] Terminal 1 has 56 check-in counters, 7 aerobridges and a conveyor belt system to transfer baggage from 12 flights at a time. It is also equipped with 6 reserve lounges, an art area, a food court, an executive lounge, and a 4,645-square-metre (50,000 sq ft) shopping area.[38] The terminal has a solar carport facility that can generate 2.4 MW[39] of power and can house 1,400 cars. Together with the solar carport at the International Terminal 3, it can generate 5.1 MW of power which is the largest carport in the world.[40]

Terminal 2 (Executive)

[edit]

Terminal 2 has an area of 10,000 m2 (110,000 sq ft) and is designed to handle up to 400 passengers at peak times. The departure hall has 26 common use terminal equipment (CUTE) enabled check-in counters, including 6 premium check-in counters, 4 self check in counters. It has 6 security gates and a common waiting area that can accommodate 400 passengers at a time. There is also a family lounge and a premium lounge for business class passengers and a food court is housed in the waiting area, while a restaurant operates in entry lobby. There are 4 remote gates facility available for domestic passengers. The arrivals hall has 2 baggage carousels.[41] This block was converted into an executive terminal on 12 December 2018.[citation needed]

Terminal 3 (International)

[edit]

The new international Terminal 3 was opened to travellers in March 2017. The theme of the terminal is inspired by Thrissur Pooram and is built in traditional Kerala architecture. 15 real-size fibre elephants, adorning traditional costumes welcome the travellers at the departure facility area. The terminal has 5 entry gates, 84 check-in counters and 80 immigration counters. It is equipped with 10 escalators, 21 elevators, and 3 moving walkways.[42] The terminal has a solar carport facility with a capacity of generating 2.7 MW power and can provide a parking facility for 1,400 cars. Along with the solar carport at the domestic Terminal 1, it is the largest solar carport in the world with a total capacity of 5.1 MW of power and a parking facility for 2,800 cars.[40]

With a total area of more than 150,000 m2 (1,614,587 sq ft), the terminal is built over four levels. The ground level handles arrivals. With a total ground area of around 41,156 m2 (442,999 sq ft), it has 10 customs counters, three bank counters, a shopping complex for the passengers and the general public, a VIP lounge, arrival duty-free shops and a baggage claim area.[42] The second level (5.5 metres above ground level) also handles arrivals and is equipped with 30 immigration counters, 10 e-T-Visa counters, five health check counters, and two moving walkways.[42] The third level (10.5 metres above ground level) is the departure facility area. It has a 20,836 m2 (224,277 sq ft) check-in area, three check-in islands having a total of 84 counters, 40 emigration counters, an 800-square-metre (8,611 sq ft) departure duty-free shop, three VIP reserved lounges, airline offices, two prayer rooms, and a moving walkway. The fourth level (15.5 metres above ground level) is the departure security hold area. With an area of more than 8,674 m2 (93,366 sq ft), it has a food court, restaurant, three airline executive lounges, smoking lounge, bar and reclining area.[42]

With the commissioning of Terminal 3, Cochin International Airport became India's 4th largest airport after Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, with a total built up area of more than 213,677 m2 (2,300,000 sq ft) for commercial operations.

Cargo center

[edit]

Cochin Airport has a dedicated cargo center on the eastern side of the complex. The cargo center is one of the largest facilities in India with a total floor space of 11,000 m2 (120,000 sq ft) in 20 hectares (50 acres) of land. There are three complexes in the cargo village:

  • The Centre for Dry Cargo (CDC), with an area of 4,600 m2 (50,000 sq ft), has a dedicated warehousing facility and air-customs inspection facility for both import and export.[43]
  • The Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) is the largest dedicated cold storage center for perishable goods in India. It has a floor area of about 2,000 m2 (22,000 sq ft) and can handle approximately 25,000 tonnes of cargo. It was commissioned in 2008 at a cost of 380 million (US$4.6 million) jointly by CIAL, the Government of India through the Agricultural and Food Promotion Export Development Authority (APEDA), and the Government of Kerala.[44][45][unreliable source?]
  • The Transshipment Cargo Complex is a dedicated warehouse allocated for transshipment cargo. The import and export cargo from the customs warehouses in the catchment area, as well as from airports like Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, etc., are handled and stored at this center for export.[43]

In addition, an exclusive domestic cargo complex has also been constructed for private domestic logistics firms and India Post services.[46][47][citation needed]

Business Jet Terminal

[edit]

According to CIAL, it is now only the fourth airport in India with a terminal for business jets. The terminal is expected to provide customised services to charter and private jets.[48][citation needed]

0484 Aero Lounge

[edit]

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) unveiled India's largest aero lounge on 1 September 2024. The facility, spanning 50,000 square feet, offers a range of amenities including guest rooms, boardrooms, conference halls, co-working spaces, and a lounge accessible to both passengers and visitors.[49]

Infrastructure

[edit]
Airport present view from terminal

Air traffic control

[edit]

The air traffic control (ATC) tower is 60 m (200 ft) tall. Cochin ATC controls flights below an altitude of 7,800 m (25,500 ft). The airport has two instrument landing systems (ILS) using distance measuring equipment (DME) which enable flights to land from both sides of the runway even in rough weather conditions. CIAL is the only airport in the country besides the airport in metros to have such a facility.[50] The ATC uses Doppler VHF omni range I and II.[51]

Large-scale upgrades such as the latest AIRCON 2100 air traffic control automation system were also introduced.[52]

Airport surveillance radar

[edit]

The Airports Authority of India has installed an advanced airport surveillance radar (ASR) as well as monopulse secondary surveillance radar (MSSR).[53][54] In addition, a surface movement radar was installed for effective monitoring of flights on the runway and in parking bays.[55]

Runway

[edit]
Apron area of Terminal 3 of the airport, with planes from SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Air India.

Cochin International Airport has one 3,445m long runway oriented as 27/09, which can handle Code E planes. It has a full-length parallel taxiway of 3,445 m (11,302 ft). The 807 m × 125 m (2,648 ft × 410 ft) apron comprising 16 stands can accommodate five wide-bodied and eight-narrow bodied aircraft.[56][57][58] The runway is spread over the panchayat areas of Nedumbassery, Sreemoolanagaram and Kanjoor.

Cochin Airport has one helipad for dedicated use of helicopters, meant for air-taxi purposes. Plans for constructing a heliport are underway.[59]

[edit]
Naval Air Enclave at the airport

The Indian Navy has set up a Naval Aircraft Enclave at Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL). The Naval Aircraft Enclave comprises a hangar for bigger aircraft of the Navy, an administrative office, a disbursal center, an apron capable of holding two Boeing-type aircraft (P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft) and a taxi track. The Naval Aircraft Enclave at Cochin airport is the second such facility of the Navy attached to an international airport, after Mumbai. It is the first public-private participation model airport to hand over land to the Navy for such a facility.[citation needed]

Construction began in 2013 on 4 hectares (10 acres) of Navy-owned land at the airport.[60][61]

Indian Coast Guard Air Enclave

[edit]

The Indian Coast Guard has taken space in CIAL to develop its second air squadron in Kochi after the INS Garuda facility to improve coastal air surveillance and air-related assistance.[citation needed]

The facility comprises two hangars to accommodate the Chetak helicopter squadron, and the Dornier squadron along with advanced light helicopters are expected to be based here. The Air Enclave would have a 50m taxi link to the runway at CIAL and would consist of aircraft hangars, technical areas and administrative buildings.[62]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, Sharjah[63][better source needed]
Air India Bangalore, [citation needed] Delhi, Doha,[64] Dubai–International, London–Gatwick,[65] Mumbai[citation needed]
Air India Express Abu Dhabi, Bahrain,[66][better source needed] Bangalore, Chennai, Dammam, Delhi, Doha, Dubai–International, Hyderabad,[67][better source needed] Kolkata, Kuwait City, Muscat, Pune, Riyadh, Salalah,[68] Sharjah
AirAsia Kuala Lumpur–International[citation needed]
Akasa Air Bangalore, Mumbai[69][better source needed]
Alliance Air Agatti, Bangalore, Salem[70]
Batik Air Malaysia Kuala Lumpur–International[71]
Emirates Dubai–International[72][better source needed]
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi[73][better source needed]
flydubai Dubai–International[74][better source needed]
Gulf Air Bahrain[75][better source needed]
IndiGo Abu Dhabi, Agatti,[76] Ahmedabad, Bahrain, Bangalore, Chennai, Dammam, Delhi, Doha, Dubai–International, Goa–Dabolim, Hyderabad, Kannur, Kolkata, Kozhikode,[76] Kuwait City, Malé, Mumbai, Muscat,[77] Pune,[78] Thiruvananthapuram
Jazeera Airways Kuwait City[79]
Kuwait Airways Kuwait City[80]
Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur–International[81]
Maldivian Malé
Oman Air Muscat[82]
Qatar Airways Doha[83]
Saudia Jeddah, Riyadh[84]
Singapore Airlines Singapore[85]
SpiceJet[86] Chennai,[citation needed] Dubai–International,[citation needed] Mumbai[citation needed]
SriLankan Airlines Colombo–Bandaranaike[87]
Thai AirAsia Bangkok–Don Mueang[88]
Thai Airways International Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi[89]
Thai Lion Air Bangkok–Don Mueang[90]
VietJet Air Ho Chi Minh City[91]

Cargo

[edit]

The following cargo airlines fly to the airport:

Statistics

[edit]
Annual passenger traffic at COK airport. See Wikidata query.
Traffic by financial year
Financial year Passengers Change from previous year Aircraft operations Cargo tonnage[92]
2023-24 10,365,655 Increase017.6% 67,469 59,974
2022-23 8,812,531 Increase086.8% 58,278 56,773
2021-22 4,717,777 Increase091.9% 22,929 55,484
2020-21 2,458,458 Decrease074.5% 24,912 N/A
2019-20 9,624,334 Decrease04.9% 66,106 N/A
2018-19 10,201,089 Increase00.75% 71,057 N/A
2017-18 10,172,839 Increase013.6% 68,772 76,274
2016-17 8,955,441 Increase016.4% 61,688 81,485
2015-16 7,749,901 Increase021.0% 56,180 79,233
2014-15 6,411,711 Increase019.0% 52,793 64,935
2013-14 5,390,000 Increase010.0% 47,072 54,440

Security

[edit]

Cochin International Airport is listed among the 12 major airports of India. Its safety and security is handled by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security through the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Cochin was the third international airport and the first private airport in the country to come under the cover of CISF in 2001,[citation needed] after the Government of India decided to hand over airport security to CISF in the wake of the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814. Security was handled by the Kerala Police; Special Branch of Kochi Police before the CISF. The airport company's Aviation Safety Wing (ASW) oversees security facilities and equipment. The ASW is also responsible for fire and emergency services.[citation needed]

Security management training is provided by CIAL's Aviation Academy and personnel are employed by the company as security agents – deployed in baggage screening rooms, entry gates, the general cargo area and the lounge areas. CIAL ASW employs Army-trained sniffer dogs to check for explosives in baggage areas, the only Indian airport to have such a facility.[93] CIAL has introduced three state-of-the-art ION scanning detectors that can identify small amounts of material, down to nanograms, of explosives.[94]

The airport is under the direct protection of the Kochi City Police, who have a station outside the terminal. CISF maintains two armed squadrons and one bomb detection and disposal squad.[95] CISF has a command center 250metres outside the terminal, with an intelligence division and mobilisation cell. The air customs division operates a narcotics detection squad in the terminal. The CIAL ASWs are working on installing a fully automated perimeter intrusion detection system that will detect any possible violation, using sensors that will provide critical time for the security forces to react. Phase one of the intrusion prevention system is in place with barricades, automatic retractable bollards, surveillance cameras, parking gate management systems and the introduction of biometric ID cards for staff.[96]

The immigration department is handled by Kerala Police, Special Branch officials trained by the Bureau of Immigration.[97]

The airport company also has a high-end robotic security system capable of remote-handling of explosive devices and fire-fighting and hostage situations. The system is operational from September 2014, making CIAL the first in South India to have such a facility. It comprises safety robots developed by Canada-based Pedsco Ltd. and Threat Containment Vessel (TCV) and sophisticated luggage containment vehicle – both developed by Nabco, USA. The main equipment of the system is a threat containment vessel (TCV) carried by robots, which is capable of containing a blast of minimum 8 kg of TNT or equivalent quantity of explosive, triggered by suspected luggage including chemicals, radioactive materials and bombs. The container is reusable as it withstands repeated detonations and size of the TCV can be adjusted with the size of the suspected baggage. In addition to TCV, the technology also comprises a remote mobile Investigator (RMI)-9WT, which is a multipurpose six-wheel vehicle with removable tracks for step climbing capability. Using fixed arm extenders, the robot can be configured for different applications such as under car searches and second-store window access.[98]

Education and training

[edit]

Since 2008, CIAL has been the first airport to venture into providing higher education in aviation management and technical areas to overcome the shortage of skilled manpower in the aviation industry.[99] CIAL has teamed up with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to start two schools in aviation education.[citation needed]

CIAL Aviation Academy provides two-year management degrees in aviation and airport management, operations, economics, finance and human resources, along with short-term aviation oriented vocational diplomas. The academy also trains technical manpower required for airport operations. Air India Express has its temporary stewards grooming and training center in the facility.[100][101]

Aviation Security Training Institute – The Aviation Security Training Institute (ASTI), envisioned by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has been inaugurated in February 2014. The institute has state-of-the-art facilities like X-ray simulators (21), explosive model room, two classrooms with LCD projectors and other training infrastructures. Explosive model rooms display different types of switch mechanism to trigger explosion. Library consists of CDs, catering to International Civil Aviation With the establishment of ASTI in Kochi, employees and management personnel from Mangalore, Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram airports can take training here. Employees of the proposed Kannur international airport are also likely to be trained here.[102]

Ground transportation

[edit]

CIAL is located between National Highway 544 (NH 544), one of the main highways of South India, and the Main Central Road (MC Road), one of the state highways of Kerala. An expressway is planned from NH 49 to the MC Road to facilitate faster transport.[103] Though the main railway line is only about 500 meters from the airport, the nearest station is Angamaly about 8 km away.[citation needed]

Air-taxi services

[edit]

Cochin airport has dedicated air-taxi services for passengers to travel to major pilgrim destinations in Kerala as well as to cities like Trivandrum and in northern Kerala like Kozhikode.[citation needed] In association with Bharat Airways, it provides scheduled air-taxi services to Sabarimala.[104]

CIAL Aerotropolis

[edit]

One of the main projects for the future of the airport was the CIAL Aerotropolis, or Airport City, with a total area of 202 hectares (500 acres).[105][106] The Aerotropolis was proposed by its founder, V.J. Kurien, to ensure additional revenue sources for the growth of the company and to increase airport traffic through tourism and allied activities. The Aerotropolis first began in Nedumbassery and nearby villages, aimed to convert into a self-sustainable town, with the airport forming the core element with a residential zone. Work on the Aerotropolis commenced in 2007, and most of the aerotropolis has been completed, as of 2023.[citation needed]

Part of the airport's solar power plant

Manufacturing and business zone

[edit]

The master plan envisages the creation of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for aircraft-allied industries, especially spare parts and OEM manufacturing units, an airline research and development center, workshops and service zones. In addition to this an Information Technology Park, with dedicated airline support technology, design and development centers is also proposed. An integrated logistics center and central container freight station are planned at the cargo village.[107]

CIAL's proposal for establishing the SEZ was approved by the Board of Approval of SEZs in 2008; however, work is yet to start due to the global recession. The project is estimated was started in August 2011, and some parts are completed, as of 2023.[citation needed]

CIAL solar power project

[edit]

The CIAL Solar Power Project is a 15 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) power station built by CIAL. Cochin International Airport became the first fully solar-powered airport in the world with the commissioning of the plant.[108][109]

The plant comprises 46,150 solar panels laid across 18 ha (45 acres) near the international cargo complex, and was installed by the German-based Bosch. It is capable of generating 50,000 units of electricity daily, and is equipped with a supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), through which remote monitoring is carried out. The project components include PV modules of 265 watt-peak (Wp) capacity manufactured by Renesola, and inverters of 1 MW capacity manufactured by ABB India.[110]

The plant is coupled with a 1.1 MW solar plant that was commissioned in 2013, the first megawatt scale installation of a solar PV system in Kerala. This plant was installed by Emvee Photovoltaic Power Pvt. Ltd., consisting of 4,000 monocrystalline modules of 250 Wp and 33 string inverters of 30 kW capacity each.[111]

CIAL has doubled solar production to 28.8 MW of power production within 2 years as part an ambitious plan to expand solar power, with three major projects under construction. The first came up over a 3.4 km-long (2.1 mi) canal close to the airport, the second was through development of India's first solar carport roof utility plan and the third will use ground level panels on open space near the airport.[112]

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
  • On 30 July 1998, Indian Airlines Flight 503, a Dornier 228 from Agathi, crashed into a building after takeoff, killing all six people on board and three more people in the building.[113]
  • On 25 April 2010, Emirates Flight EK 530, a Boeing 777-200 from Dubai, dropped around 61 metres (200 ft) during heavy turbulence as the aircraft entered a thick cumulonimbus cloud while on its descent. 20 passengers were injured and some internal damage was caused to the plane. The aircraft was on descent into Kochi when the incident occurred. There were 350 passengers and 14 crew on board.[114]
  • On 29 August 2011, Gulf Air Flight GF 270, an Airbus A320 from Bahrain, carrying 137 passengers skidded off the runway at 3:55 am during its descent. The reason for the crash is suspected to be the heavy rain at the time. The aircraft had been said to have slipped off the runway and landed nose first. The aircraft broke one of its wings while landing and stalled air traffic for hours. Passengers after the crash, in chaos, were reported to have jumped from the aircraft through emergency exit doors even before stairways were brought into place. The crash caused seven minor injuries and two serious injuries due to the chaos that followed.[115]
  • On 4 September 2017, Air India Express Flight IX 452, a Boeing 737-800 which arrived from Abu Dhabi, got stuck in the drain canal while taxiing to the international terminal 3 after landing. Passengers and crew were safely evacuated. The incident happened when the pilot took a wrong turn from the parallel taxiway, almost 90 meters before the link taxiway through which the aircraft was supposed to vacate.[116]

2018 Kerala floods

[edit]

As a consequence of 2018 Kerala floods, the airport was closed 14–29 August 2018. Water in the Periyar, which flows 500 metres (1,640 ft) away from the airport, rose to 1,433 mm (4.7 ft) during these days.[117] The runway and other facilities were non-functional due to excessive flooding and inclement weather.[118] Flights to Kochi were diverted to and were operating from other airports in the state like Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.[119][120][121] From 20 August 2018, INS Garuda (a naval airbase in Kochi) was used as a civilian airport for small aircraft operations to neighbouring cities like Bangalore, Chennai, and Coimbatore.[122][123][124] The airport reopened on 29 August 2018, 14:00 Indian Standard Time (UTC+05:30).[125] It suffered an estimated loss of 3 billion (US$36 million) during the closed period.[126][127][128]

2019 Kerala floods

[edit]

As a consequence of 2019 Kerala floods, water flooding the runway due to the heavy rains led to temporary suspension of airport operations from 8 August 2019 to 12:00 Indian Standard Time on 11 August 2019.[129]

Awards and accolades

[edit]

Cochin International Airport achieved major international recognition in 2015 when it became the first fully solar-powered airport in the world. In 2017, it also became the first airport in the world to implement a solar carport, a parking bay with rooftop solar panels. The airport was selected as "the best non-metro airport in India" in 2016 by the Air Passengers Association of India.[130] The airport has also won numerous awards for energy conservation, productivity and infrastructure.[131] In July 2018, the airport was selected for the Champion of the Earth award, the highest environmental honour instituted by the United Nations.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Annexure III – Passenger Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data" (PDF). aai.aero. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Airports in Kerala-Helpful guide for tourists visiting Kerala". 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Crore plus transit CIAL in 2018-19; domestic travellers exceed international". The New Indian Express. 8 April 2019. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Why September will be a watershed moment for Bengaluru airport". Mint (newspaper). 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Cochin International Airport new T3: From solar power to world-class facilities, this Kerala airport is special". Financial Express. 18 July 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Cochin International Airport set to become worlds's first fully solar-powered major airport". LiveMint. 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  9. ^ Menon, Supriya (9 October 2015). "How is the world's first solar powered airport faring? - BBC News". BBC News. Bbc.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  10. ^ a b "CIAL chosen for UN environmental honour". The New Indian Express. 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  11. ^ "2020 - Best Airport by Size and Region". ACI World. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  12. ^ [1] Archived 7 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ The origin of INS Venduruthy can be traced to 31 August 1939, when a small naval contingent was positioned in Kochi under Royal Indian Navy Captain L. Wadeson, who assumed the duties of Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cochin. http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/02/stories/2010070250590200.htm Archived 21 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Kerala / Kochi News : INS Venduruthy celebrates anniversary". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 24 June 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  15. ^ "The Official Website of Cochin International Airport". Cial.aero. 30 March 1994. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  16. ^ "CIAL – A Novel Venture in Indian Civil Aviation". Government of India, Press Information Bureau. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  17. ^ "About CIAL A Brief History". CIAL. 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  18. ^ "CIAL: Corporate Project Details". CIAL. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  19. ^ "Governance Issues in Airport Development: Learnings From Cochin International Airport LTD" (PDF). IIM Ahmedabad. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  20. ^ "A Brief History". CIAL. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  21. ^ Travel & Tourism Newsletter, hotels, airlines, destination – January 2007 Archived 31 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine "Phase 3 expansion". 14 December 2010. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012.
  22. ^ "New international departure terminal to be opened soon". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 22 October 2008. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  23. ^ "Flights to Kochi airport to be rescheduled". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 18 March 2008. Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  24. ^ "Capabilities". Cochin International Aviation Services. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  25. ^ "About CIAL Overview". Cochin International Airport. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Rs. 100 crore for airport expansion". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 January 2009. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  27. ^ "Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) - Airport Details". AERA. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  28. ^ "State-of-the-art terminal at CIAL soon". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 16 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  29. ^ "CIAL to have new International terminal – Kochi – The Hindu". business-standard.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  30. ^ "New terminal at CIAL soon – Kochi – The Hindu Business Line". thehindubusinessline.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  31. ^ "CM: New international terminal for Kochi airport — National — news — Business Standard". Ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  32. ^ "CIAL". Cial.aero. 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  33. ^ "Finance Accounts 2008–09, Govt of Kerala" (PDF). Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  34. ^ a b "Cochin airport to go for initial public offering". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  35. ^ Nedumudy, Vinod (12 February 2018). "M A Yusuffali bags 71 lakh more CIAL shares". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  36. ^ "Investor Info". CIAL. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  37. ^ "Welcome to Cochin International Airport...The travel friendly airport!". CIAL Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  38. ^ a b c "Ethnic charm awaits travellers at Cochin International Airport". The New Indian Express. 16 December 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  39. ^ "2.4 MWp, Solar Power Plant Kerala, India - Solar Rooftop Project". Sterling and Wilson Solar. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  40. ^ a b "World's largest carport in Kochi". Deccan Chronicle. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  41. ^ "The Official Website of Cochin International Airport". Cial.aero. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  42. ^ a b c d "Cochin International Airport - Terminal 3" (PDF). CIAL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  43. ^ a b "Cargo facilities at Cochin Airport". Archived from the original on 1 July 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  44. ^ Rana, Karvi (16 December 2023). "Cargo Service Center broadens operations in Kerala". Logistics Insider. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  45. ^ "Cochin Airport to have largest perishable cargo centre in India". Freshplaza.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  46. ^ "New cargo terminal at Cial to be inaugurated by September". The Times of India. 11 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  47. ^ "Chief Minister to launch seven CIAL mega projects on October 2". The Hindu. 25 September 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  48. ^ "Cial's business jet terminal handles 1k flights in 14 mnts". The Times of India. 15 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  49. ^ "Aero lounge at Kochi airport to be launched on September 1". thehindu.com. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  50. ^ "Cochin International Airport Ltd installs second Instrument Landing System". Deccan Chronicle. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  51. ^ "The Official Website of Cochin International Airport". Cial.aero. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  52. ^ "New radar to be commissioned at Kochi airport Friday". IBN Live. Press Trust of India. 12 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  53. ^ "Airports Authority of India". Aai.aero. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  54. ^ "New radar for Kochi airport in 6 months". The Times of India. 3 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011.
  55. ^ "CIAL to install radar at airport". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 29 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  56. ^ "The Official Website of Cochin International Airport". Cial.aero. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  57. ^ "Kochi Airport (COK) Details – India". World-airport-codes.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  58. ^ "Kochi (COK) - Airport details". Theairdb.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  59. ^ "Heli taxi service launched at Kochi airport". The New Indian Express. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  60. ^ "Aircraft enclave for Navy at Cial". The Times of India. 11 April 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013.
  61. ^ "CIAL to have Naval Aircraft Enclave | Business Line". Thehindubusinessline.com. 10 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  62. ^ Chacko Joseph (9 January 2010). "Brute Gorilla: Foundation Stone Laying of Indian Coast Guard Air Enclave, Kochi". Brutegorilla.blogspot.in. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  63. ^ "Destinations". Air Arabia. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  64. ^ Velani, Bhavya (1 October 2023). "Air India Launches New Flights between Kochi and Doha". Aviation A2Z. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  65. ^ "Air India launches weekly flights to London's Gatwick, Heathrow Airport". The Economic Times. 12 January 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  66. ^ "COK-BAH Air India Express Flights Schedule". Air India Express. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2022.|
  67. ^ "Air India Express to expand flights from Hyderabad". AviationAll. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  68. ^ "Air India Express to resume Cochin-Salalah service from Apr-2023". CAPA. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  69. ^ "Akasa Air Flight Network". Akasa Air. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  70. ^ Sivapriyan, E.T.B. (16 October 2023). "Salem Airport resumes operation with inaugural flight from Bengaluru". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  71. ^ "Batik Air Malaysia 3Q 2022 India restorations". Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  72. ^ "Cochin". Emirates. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  73. ^ "Our network". Etihad Airways. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  74. ^ "Welcome to Kochi". Fly Dubai. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  75. ^ "Kochi". Gulf Air. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  76. ^ a b "Flight Schedule". IndiGo. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  77. ^ "Indigo to resume flights from Muscat in May". Zawya. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  78. ^ "Indigo started flights to Raipur". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  79. ^ "Cheap Flights to Kochi". Jazeera Airways. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  80. ^ "Indian Sub-continent Flights". Kuwait Airways. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  81. ^ "Malaysia Airlines resumes services from CIAL". The Hindu. 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  82. ^ "Our Destinations". Oman Air. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  83. ^ "Kochi,India". Qatar Airways. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  84. ^ "Saudi Arabia's flight ban ends for travelers from India, Egypt, Patan". Arab News. 1 December 2021. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  85. ^ "Singapore Airlines to resume operations from Kochi on November 30". 28 November 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  86. ^ "SpiceJet's Flight Schedule and Information". SpiceJet. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  87. ^ "Route Map". SriLankan Airlines. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  88. ^ "AirAsia Resumes Flights to Seven Countries on 18 Routes this April! Fly Easy with No Quarantine". 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  89. ^ "Thai Tentatively Files Kochi April 2024 LAUNCH". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  90. ^ "Hello : Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Kochi". Thai Lion Air. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  91. ^ "VietJet Air Expands India Network in August 2023". Aeroroutes. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  92. ^ Total cargo (freight, express, & mail)
  93. ^ Passenger Terminal Today Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine "Sniffer dogs at airport". 14 December 2010. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011.
  94. ^ "CIAL introduces ION Scan". The New Indian Express. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  95. ^ KERALA. "BDDS to enhance security at Cochin airport - KERALA". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  96. ^ "Enhanced security equipment at Cochin airport". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 19 January 2010. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  97. ^ Radhakrishnan, S. Anil (15 June 2010). "Airport facing lack of immigration officials". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  98. ^ "Robotic security for Kochi airport". The Hindu. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  99. ^ "CIAL academy". The Times of India. 9 March 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  100. ^ "Aviation academy: CIAL ties up with IGNOU". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 March 2009. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  101. ^ Cochin International Aviation Services Ltd Archived 23 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine "Cochin International Aviation Services Ltd". 14 December 2010. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009.
  102. ^ Mampilli, Joseph (23 January 2014). "Aviation Security Training Institute to be Ready Soon". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  103. ^ "Expressway to the airport". Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  104. ^ "Helicopter service launched for pilgrims in Kochi". www.dailyindia.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  105. ^ "The Hindu : Kerala News : Kochi airport presents 'Aerotropolis' roadmap". 3 March 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  106. ^ "The Official Website of Cochin International Airport". Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2011. CIAL.AERO
  107. ^ "cochin-airport.in". www.cochin-airport.in. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  108. ^ "How is the world's first solar powered airport faring?". BBC News. 9 October 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  109. ^ Crew, Bec (20 August 2015). "India Establishes World's First 100 Percent Solar-Powered Airport". report. scienceAlert. Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  110. ^ "Kochi airport installs 12MW solar plant". The Hindu business line. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  111. ^ "CIAL all set to become the first solar powered airport in the country". Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  112. ^ Times News Network (6 July 2016). "Cial places three more solar bets". Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  113. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident HAL/Dornier 228-201 VT-EJW Cochin Airport (COK)". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 6 April 2005. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  114. ^ 'Emirates pilot couldn't avoid Cumulonimbus cloud'- TIMESNOW.tv – Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos Archived 28 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine "Emirates pilot couldn't avoid Cumulonimbus cloud". 14 December 2010. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
  115. ^ "Kochi: Plane skids off the runway, 7 passengers injured". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  116. ^ "Air India Express aircraft veers off taxiway at Kochi airport, all passengers safe". The Indian Express. 7 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  117. ^ "After being shut for 15 days due to floods, Kochi airport finally reopens". The News Minute. 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  118. ^ "Kerala floods: Kochi airport to remain closed till August 26 afternoon". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  119. ^ "Kochi Airport Shut Till Saturday, Flights Diverted to Calicut and Thiruvananthapuram". News18. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  120. ^ "Reschedule Kochi flights to Trivandrum and Calicut, Centre tells airlines". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  121. ^ "Kerala floods: GoAir, IndiGo to operate special flights to and from Trivandrum airport". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  122. ^ Chowdhury, Anirban; Krishnakumar, P. K. (21 August 2018). "Naval air base at Kochi opened up for commercial flights". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  123. ^ "Alliance Air to fly ATR to Kochi naval airbase from Monday, other airlines may follow suit". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  124. ^ "Alliance Air To Operate Flights From Kochi Naval Base For Rescue Ops". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  125. ^ "Kochi airport reopens after 15 days of closure". The Hindu. 30 August 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  126. ^ "Kerala floods: Kochi airport suffers estimated loss of over Rs 220 crore". The Economic Times. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  127. ^ "How Kochi airport reopened in 14 days after floods caused Rs 300 cr-worth loss". The News Minute. 5 September 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  128. ^ "CIAL seeks Dutch help to tackle flood at the airport". Deccan Chronicle. 5 September 2018. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  129. ^ "Kerala rain live updates: Cochin airport resumes operations; Army reaches landslide-hit Nilambur". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  130. ^ "National award for Cochin international airport". Deccan Chronicle. 30 August 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  131. ^ "About CIAL". Cochin International Airport. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
[edit]