Cochin International Airport, India

Cochin International Airport (CIAL) is the first greenfield airport in India to be built under a public private partnership (PPP). The airport is located at Nedumbassery, 25km north-east of Cochin, in the state of Kerala.

With annual passenger movement of over 3.9 million, CIAL is the fourth busiest international airport in India. It handled 1.71 million domestic and 2.23 million international passengers in 2009-2010. It witnessed 23,476 domestic and 18,068 international aircraft movements during the period.

In 2011, eight domestic and 16 international airlines operating from the airport.

Cochin International Airport design

CIAL occupies an area of 1,300 acres. It is strategically situated near to three National Highways NH 47, NH 17 and NH 49. The main railway line from Kanyakumari to Delhi passes through the airport and the Cochin Sea Port is also situated close by.

Designed to handle any type of wide-bodied aircraft, the airport has modern facilities combined with traditional architecture unique to Kerala.

Financing

The airport development has been phased out on a modular basis to cater to future needs and also to cut down the initial investments.

The total development cost is estimated at approximately Rs3.15bn, of which Rs850m was acquired through a paid up equity capital and Rs2.18bn from term loan.

CIAL expansion

Expansions at the international terminal, car parking, aircraft parking bays, aerobridges and cargo complex are currently underway.

CIAL also plans to develop a full-fledged airport city called Aerotropolis in 450 acres of land. The proposed project will include an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, aviation academy, star/budget hotels, golf course, convention / exhibition centre, logistics centre, amusement park and cultural village.

Terminal features

Cochin International Airport has two modern passenger terminals, one for international and the other for domestic passengers.

The international and domestic terminals cover 478,000ft² and 100,000ft² respectively. The terminals feature fully computerised check-in counter displays, closed-circuit camera system, fire detection and control system and integrated flight information display system (FIDS) and public address system.

The international terminal efficiently handles a peak capacity of 2,400 passengers an hour. It features India's largest duty free shop called Cochin Duty Free.

The domestic terminal complex has a peak hour passenger handling capacity of 800. It features a large shopping complex with 21 shops.

Passenger facilities at the airport include waiting room, medical room, currency exchange bureau, tourism information centre, bookshop, restaurant and lounge, coffee kiosk and public conveniences. CIAL also offers 14 well furnished guest rooms for passengers within the airport.

The business centre provides internet, photocopy, print, fax, scan, e-ticketing and internet calling facilities. Modern illuminated signage is provided for adequate guidance / direction in and around the terminals.

Modern, automated and computer-controlled cargo terminals are located in the cargo village, the airport's cargo centre spread over 50 acres. It has dedicated area for the storage and handling of domestic and international cargo including trans-shipment cargo.

The cargo centre handles over 15 scheduled and non-scheduled carriers operating over 80 aircraft daily to major cities across the world.

The cargo terminals accommodate aircraft loading both narrow and wide-body upper deck and narrow-body belly. They also have a warehouse and storage space of 100,000ft².

In November 2010, CIAL awarded a contract to air transport communications company SITA to set up common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks to facilitate fast and convenient check-in and boarding.

The five-year contract also includes automation of passenger check-in and bag reconciliation at the airport.

CIAL security

The CIAL security wing screens registered baggage through a BCAS-certified hold baggage screening system X-BIS. The hi-scan X-ray unit performs automated X-ray inspection at higher detection rate and minimised error alarm rate. The three-level fully automatic system can screen the hold baggage according to BCAS regulations to detect explosives.

The CIAL Security Wing also provides aircraft security services to Gulf Air, Air Arabia and Etihad Airways.

Runway

The airport has a single runway (27/09) measuring 3,400m long and 45m wide. A 3,400m taxiway is provided alongside the runway.

The runway is equipped with Category I approach lighting system, simple approach system and precision approach path indicator.

The 807m x 125m apron comprising 16 stands can accommodate five wide bodied and eight narrow bodied aircraft.

Ground transportation

Buses frequently run from the airport to major destinations in Cochin. Pre-paid taxis are available 24/7 from CIA to most of the places in Cochin. Fully computerised pre-paid taxi counters are located at both the domestic and international terminals.