CIAL (Cochin International Airport Ltd) is managed by a board of directors including industrialists, NRI, political leaders and representatives of financial institutions. CIAL has got many revered shareholders like Bharat Petroleum, Air-India, Kerala government, the Federal Bank, State Bank of Travancore, and Housing & Urban Development Corporation.
History of the Cochin International Airport dates back to the year 1991. This was when the State Government decided to pursue the new airport project instead of expanding the existing naval airport. The Ministry of Civil Aviation showed its green signal to the project, in March 1993. In May 25, 1999, Cochin Internation al Airport was formally inaugurated by the then President of India - K. R. Narayanan. In June 1999, the domestic operations were shifted to this airport, from naval airport at Willingdon Island. The inaugural flight from Cochin International Airport was plied by Air India, on June 10, 1999.
Location of Cochin Airport
Cochin Airport stands 28 km from the Cochin city center and Ernakulam Junction Railway Station. The Cochin Sea Port is also located nearby. The runway length of the airport is 12000 ft. and the elevation is about 8 ft.
How to Reach Cochin Airport
Cochin Airport is positioned a bit outside the city. There are city buses that you can opt to reach the airport at the cheapest rates. If you hate crowds and don’t prefer buses, then hire a Taxi, auto rickshaw or a private car but they charge 4 to 5 times of what buses take.
Domestic Airlines that operate from Cochin Airport:
At present, there are ten domestic airlines that operate from Cochin International Airport. These airlines include Indian Airlines (Agatti, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Trivandrum), IndiGo Airlines (Delhi, Hyderabad), Jet Airways (Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai), JetLite (Delhi, Hyderabad), Air India (Mumbai, Trivandrum), Air India Express (Calicut, Mumbai, Trivandrum), GoAir (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai), Kingfisher Airlines (Agatti, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hydrabad, Mangalore, Mumbai, Trivandrum), Paramount Airways (Chennai, Goa) and SpiceJet (Delhi, Mumbai).Other than this, there are international airlines operating from Cochin International Airport, and they include Qatar Airways (Doha), Oman Air (Muscat), Bahrain Air (Bahrain), Air India Express (Abu Dhabi, Salalah, Al Ain, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Sharjah), Kuwait Airways (Kuwait), Indian Airlines (Muscat, Sharjah), Gulf Air (Bahrain), SilkAir (Singapore), Saudi Arabian Airlines (Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh), Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi), Emirates Airline (Dubai), Air India Dammam, (Jeddah, Riyadh) and Air Arabia (Sharjah).
Passenger Facilities offered at the airport:
• Banking and Exchange services
• Air Insurance counter
• Postal facility
• ISD / STD / Local PCOs
• TR / Book Stalls
• Tobacconist Shop
• Restaurant
• Free Porterage Service for convenience of old, infirm, handicapped and unaccompanied ladies / minors.
• Duty Free Shopping Arcade
• Pre-paid Taxi Car Service
• Snack Bar Counters
• Public Convenience
• Water Coolers
• Free Baggage Trolleys
