TBM Staff - Mumbai Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Cochin International Airport is equipped to become the hub in South India for air operators. He was speaking at the inauguration of Aero Lounge 0484, the largest such facility in the country at the airport.
Vijayan said airlines operators, who sought cooperation to operate flights to small towns can now use CIAL, which is fully equipped to meet requirements and more facilities can be added as the demand arises, reports The Hindu.
CIAL handles more than a crore passengers a year. There are 670 flights from CIAL to foreign destinations and 795 services to domestic centres a week. All the cities in India are now connected by air from Kochi.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Minister of Industries P Rajeeve and others during the inauguration of the ‘0484 Aero Lounge’ at the Cochin International Airport, in Kochi, September 1.
Keeping in mind its social responsibility, CIAL authorities are planning more facilities for the passengers. The most important of them is the INR 550-crore expansion of the international terminal. The work is expected to be completed in three years.
A commercial zone is being developed close to the airport at a cost of INR 160 crore.
The Chief Minister said that privatisation of airports has been taking place apace. However, private operators, who have been handed over the airport, have been imposing increased user and development fees. The burden then falls on the ordinary passengers, he said.
Vijayan said that Aero Lounge 0484 was built keeping in mind the demand from passengers for short stay facility. The 50,000 sq. ft. facility can be used by visitors and passengers paying the fees for the period of the use.
