CIAL approves new int’l terminal design

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The process for materialising the ambitious Rs 600 crore new international terminal at the Cochin International Airport has gone a step further with the CIAL director board on Saturday approving
the engineering design of the terminal.

The terminal will be capable of handling 10 million passengers per annum.

The tender for the same will be floated soon.

According to the design of the terminal, the arrival and departure sections will be at two levels unlike the arrangement in the existing terminal.

The new terminal will be able to handle 15 aircraft at a time with full aerobridge connectivity and will be able to handle the expected passenger traffic until 2030. It will have a total area of 10 sq feet.

The airport company has also not given up plans to start direct services to Europe and the US and is in talks with major international airlines.

However players such as Lufthansa, British Airways and Cathay Pacific, after visits here, are apprehensive that they won’t get sufficient business class passengers to register sufficient revenue.

However, CIAL is still coaxing them by offering concession in landing and parking charges, according to managing director V.J. Kurien.

The implementation of the integrated airport management system for total computerisation and integration of all airport operations is progressing on schedule and the process is expected to go live by the end of the year.

The construction work on the canopy in front of the international terminal is almost over. It will address the problem of passengers and their baggage getting wet during rains.

CIAL successfully completed its first consultancy assignment with Kannur international airport within a record time and the report has been accepted by board of KIAL.

As a feather in its crown, the CIAL has now been appointed consultants for the development of air strip at Bekal.