Kochi airport sees historic pax flow in Dec, BA News, BA

The passenger flow at Kochi airport in a single month crossed one million for the first time in its history in Dec, clearly indicating its rapid and steady growth. An increased number of flights, coupled with augmented facilities, resulted in the increase in passenger turnout.

Cochin International Airport Ltd (Cial) attributed the increase to its strategic development plan.

“Considering the anticipated exponential growth in the global aviation sector, India stands poised for remarkable advancements. The Indian aviation industry is forecast to soar at an annual growth rate of 16 per cent. At Cial, our board has meticulously crafted a strategic development plan to align with this trajectory. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, the management ensures that our passengers receive an exceptional experience at the airport,” Cial managing director S Suhas told TOI.

To sustain the growth trajectory, Cial authorities plan to introduce more routes and other services to cater to the passengers’ needs.

“This year, our focus is on introducing new international routes and expanding domestic services to offer cost-effective air travel options. With innovation as our compass, we are charting a new course for a seamless and sustainable aviation experience,” Suhas said.

According to those in the travel and tourism sector, Kochi has great potential for further growth. “There is flight connectivity from Kochi to many countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and those in the Middle East and Europe. Cargo services to and from the airport too are strong,” said Travel Agents Federation of India national managing committee member Paulose Mathew.

“Migration, especially educational migration, from Kerala to countries like Australia, Canada, and the UK was high for the past several years. Many students from Kerala migrate to East European countries, especially countries which were part of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Such migration is followed by visits by the students’ family members once a year or so to those countries. The flow of tourists from Kerala to other countries is also on the rise in the past few years, thanks to social media, vloggers, etc., who provide more information on access to various foreign destinations,” Mathew said.The overall passenger turnout for the 2024 calendar year was 10.97 million. “During the calendar year 2023 also, our passenger turnout had crossed 10 million. This time, the 10-million mark was crossed on Dec 21 itself,” a senior official with Cial said. Though the airport crossed the 10-million mark for the first time in 2019, the passenger flow dipped subsequently, and did not touch the 10-million mark for the next three years.