Cochin International Airport (CIAL) is the first green field airport
in the country built with Public-Private partnership. It the World’s
first airport fully powered by solar energy. For this reason it has
won international accolade including “The Champions of the Earth
Award-2018 “from United Nations. At present the total installed
capacity of solar power plants at CIAL is 40MWp.
Mr.V.J.Kurian IAS is the founder managing director of the company
and the project itself is his brain child. With the guidance and
patronage of Late Mr.K.Karunakaran, former Chief Minister of Kerala,
Mr.Kurian could materialize a never before idea of building an
international airport with public private partnership. He was
responsible for the entire project from conception to making the
company a runaway success.
The company showcases a sustainable business model which always
adheres to people, community and culture.
There are 24 airline companies operate from the airport today, which
facilitates direct connectivities to GCC, Sri Lanka, Singapore,
Thailand and Malaysia. The MRO facility by CIASL, a fully owned
subsidiary of CIAL, has obtained certifications from DGCA,-India,
GCAA-UAE; SLCAA-Sri Lanka and is providing engineering services to
Sri Lankan Airlines, Etihad, Gulf Air etc.
Ever since commercial operations started on 10th June 1999 with
International flight to Dammam, CIAL, has grown rapidly becoming the
4th largest International Airport in India in terms of international
passenger traffic in just four years. CIAL recorded a cumulative
annual growth rate of nearly 20% in the initial 8 years and
thereafter at 12% with annual passenger traffic touching 7.7 million
in 2015-16.
The airport handled 8.9 million passengers during 2016-17 and the
weekly aircraft movements stand around 1200. For the first time in
its history, the passenger volume for a single financial year
(2017-18) touched 10 million on 28th March 2018. Domestic traffic in
the second quarter of Financial Year 2020-21 is expected to reach
1,00,000-1,25,000 daily passengers.
Kochi in Kerala is witnessing unprecedented growth. Kochi has become
the business hub of Kerala and is witnessing a number of mega
projects like LNG terminal, International Cargo Container Terminal
etc. Studies in tourism sector show a annual growth of 7% in foreign
tourists and 9% in domestic tourists. Kerala Government’s Vision
2025 sets its targets.