Kochi (COK) | Cochin International Airport

[Malayaali]

CIAL has been actively wooing few west airlines such as Lufthansa, British Airways etc. to start service from Kochi. The numbers are being studied and a positive result is awaited.

The approx. figures are 3000 pax to Europe & US from the state every week. That's quite good enough to commence direct services.

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Cosmicbliss

Mohammed, there is a large Keralite diaspora outside the Gulf too. Can more flights be started there?

Very true. There are many. Infact its a naked fact, that Malayalee Population in ME is fast declining and replaced from other states of India and Filpino community. The second generation of Malayalees, who got better education due first wave of immigration to Gulf have enabled many to get good jobs and settle down in Europe and US.

As Malayali said, there are more than 3000 PAX from Kerala able to travel to Europe/US daily. But as we all, the ME airlines are always a serious threat European Carriers. Since they cater ME based traffic also, they can offer more better prices to Europe. Perhaps only Mumbai or Delhi or to some extend Chennai and Blr can offer business traffic bound to Europe/US. Still in times of recession, many companies are making corporate tie-ups with ME airlines, which offers damn low prices. This is still an hindrance to Kochi, which has more of personal travellers than corporate.

Still, we can expect Luft, BA anytime soon, as they have seriously expressed their interest. As you know, multiple factors are involved for a final decision.

I also count EL AL and more airlines from SE sooner or later.....

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

GoK plans 'Kerala Airlines'

To be based at CIAL
Will propose the project during 'Emerging Kerala' event


cc: Mathrubhumi

The thought is very good and sure to be an instant hit, if it have access to ME airlines. Rather than going for a Greenfield route, it would be far better for Kerala Govt to consider for taking over AIE or any other loss making low profile airline like Go Air or sub brand like Jetkonnect etc. These all have completed 5 years and able to access to Gulf countries.

I personally feel, the best is for GOK is to lobby to get stake of AIE, detach from AI and make into a fully Kochi based airline, catering Kerala's needs. Perhaps a consortium of Kerala Investors and even public will help.

At the same time, I pity for the narrow mind vision of GOK in this regards. Airlines like JET or KF with so high vision, ambition, miserable making loss in aviation sector, how can Kerala Airways just think of Gulf passengers alone as its clients.... Its a very risking business model.

Rather it should have a primary focus on building up an efficient airline with good networks, from Kerala, including long distance routes. Ofcourse, the first perferance can be Gulf passengers. But it should not be first and last thought, when thinking of AK

AIE failing as a brand, just because its limited to such a thought, when its counterparts like Air Arabia or Air Asia are minting gold.....

[krishnancv]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

CIAL development projects

Excuse me for my ignorance, but has a new int'l terminal been planned perpendicular to the current terminal? Anyway, the whole project looks awesome

[Malayaali]

From the presentation i have to say, you've got it right.

[DileepKS]

Well, it is good design to have the entrance hall perpendicular, and the gates on a concourse that is parallel to the runway.

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by krishnancv

Excuse me for my ignorance, but has a new int'l terminal been planned perpendicular to the current terminal? Anyway, the whole project looks awesome

Yes friend.

Right in mid 2010, when there was plans of new Domestic terminal, it was planned in this mode. Check the map, which I posted in early 2011. After May 2011, the plans got changed to make the site for International terminal, while converting existing International terminal into Domestic



The land originally earmarked for SEZ which now stands for Parking stands

[Malayaali]

Error: PROPOSED NEW INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL.

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Error: PROPOSED NEW INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL.

Yeah... I prepared this map in Jan 2011 and posted in this thread that time. At that time, it was domestic airport planned there. Now changed to International terminal. But the location is right. Just to point out the place. Thats all

[malluland]

The proposed new International Terminal looks very practical with the multiple levels. The one thing I do hope they do is have more natural light in the terminal. The present terminal is so dependent on artificial lighting - especially in the check in area.

[krishnancv]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Yes friend.

Right in mid 2010, when there was plans of new Domestic terminal, it was planned in this mode. Check the map, which I posted in early 2011. After May 2011, the plans got changed to make the site for International terminal, while converting existing International terminal into Domestic



The land originally earmarked for SEZ which now stands for Parking stands

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation Mohammed. SO won't there be any contact gates for international terminal? Or will there be additional parking stands with passenger boarding bridges at the international terminal?

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by krishnancv

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation Mohammed. SO won't there be any contact gates for international terminal? Or will there be additional parking stands with passenger boarding bridges at the international terminal?

There is my dear friend. Actually my map is very old one, based on inputs of my friend working in CIAL. That time, the plan of SEZ was intact, hence only a terminal bldg planned with remaining vast acres of land to be converted into an Industrial unit.

Now its changed completely. There won't be any SEZ land as of now. The land in between New terminal and MRO will be converted into parking stands and apron. There are 16 contact gates for new terminal. All together 30 new parking stands will be commissioned in the new facility, making total capacity to around 60. The current international terminal have 5 contact gates and this will be converted as domestic contact gates.

If my knowledge is right, there will be an extension in airside of current domestic terminal (in future as Royal Pavillion). This will further facilitate additional 2 gates for Domestic terminal.

If all goes well, CIAL will have 23 contact gates both international and domestic combined.

[Malayaali]

Free Trade Warehousing Zone to be set up near CIAL

Falcon Infrastructures Ltd, operators of the first private sector container freight station in Kerala, is one of the parties associated with the new initiative. Mr N.A. Mohammed Kutty, Managing Director, Falcon Infrastructure, spoke to Business Line on the potential of the sector in the State and its problems. Experts:

What are the emerging opportunities in logistics sector in Kerala?

With the commissioning of Vallarpadam Terminal, Kerala has tremendous opportunities in logistics industry especially by establishing free trade warehousing zones (FTWZs).

FTWZs enable the importers to store stocks for a longer period of up to two years without paying any duty and can re-export after some value addition.

Considering the geographical advantage and the proximity to international maritime routes, Kerala can certainly emerge as the right logistics hub of the southern states.

The ICD's of Hyderabad, Bangalore and Coimbatore can have a better connectivity and become more economical, when Vallarpadam Terminal becomes fully operational.

The distance from Chennai to Bangalore and Hyderabad is almost the same and additional expenditure on transhipment through Colombo can be saved, if transhipment takes place from Vallarpadam.

Why logistics industry had not taken off as expected even after the commissioning of Vallarpadam Terminal?

Vallarpadam is considered as a transhipment terminal with SEZ status and an alternate facility to Colombo and Singapore for transhipments.

The existing Cabotage Law is a major hurdle to the projected development of Vallarpadam, as foreign vessels cannot operate containers within the Indian ports. The long delay at Valayar check post for clearance of the export cargo especially garments from Thirupur is another cause for which the State Government should provide a fast track clearance facility with a separate counter for export cargo.

As a pioneer in the logistics industry in Kerala, what has been your experience ?

Pioneers always suffer a lot to thrive and establish, especially when you choose to implement projects with innovative and unique ideas. For them there are also no case studies to refer.

What are your new projects?

Falcon's Integrated Logistics Hub near Kochi was the first of its kind in the country and still the only one that offers fully integrated logistics services including CFS.

Now, our aim is to set up the first FTWZ at Kochi. We are in the process of acquiring land near Cochin International Airport for the purpose.

[krishnancv]

Thanks Mohammed.

[Jyot1985]

News on Surveillance radar installation

Courtesy: Mathrubhumi

[manukarukail]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

CIAL development projects

The video features:

4-6 lane development and realignment of the Airport road.
CIAL Golf & Country Club.
CIAL Trade Fair & Exhibition Center (Couldn't identify the structures near that).
New 6 lane Airport ROB.
Separate road to MRO.
110KV hybrid substation.
New Rs 400 crore, 1 Million sqft, 3 storey International Terminal.
The terminal building has been planned on three levels:-
Departure at 2nd level, Arrival at 1st level and Immigration, Customs and Baggage screening on the ground level.
Existing terminal to be converted as Domestic & Private Jets terminal.
Canopy for the existing terminal.

Relax and enjoy!

OMG!! tat's simply superb. So they are going to construct a new ROB while the old one still remains intact. thanks Malayaali for sharing

[Malayaali]

Yea they will. If the presentation is updated with projects outside CIAL's scope, one could see the SP-AP road crossing the airport road before the Golf Club. I hope they will built an interchange there.

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Yea they will. If the presentation is updated with projects outside CIAL's scope, one could see the SP-AP road crossing the airport road before the Golf Club. I hope they will built an interchange there.

I am slightly confused here.... There was report eariler, that CIAL will construct a 6 lane road starting from current ROB straight towards Expo Centre and make a complete new alignment sans any curves towards NH. The current road starting from Athani Jn to remain as road for Golf Club and Expo users.

In the video, we see such a new ROB or alignment beyond Expo centre, but seems to be a side road, while its Athani-Airport road shown as 6 lane....

Don't know whether the video was made before CIAL considering such a plan or not.

Likewise, how come SPAP join with Airport Road before Golf Club. CIAL has handed over more than 10 acres of land beyond Golf Club to Forest Dept to set up Suryodyanam project and now its a reserve Biosphere. How come SPAP cut off thro' the forest range, to reach Airport Road? The old alignment should be after Golf Club. But now no more possible with Second phase of Golf Course and Railway station works. We are still cluless, how SPAP reaches Airport....

[Malayaali]

The below report says the earlier alignment of SP-AP road will be slightly changed as it passes through the golf club. So the new alignment should pass near the Golf Club i believe.

[Malayaali]

First Indian plane using fuel-saving technology lands in Kochi

Kochi: No-frill carrier IndiGo today became the first Indian airline to carry out a landing at the Kochi airport using a system that allows an aircraft to be guided by a sophisticated on board navigation system instead of ground-based radars.

In carrying out this precision landing, an Airbus A-320 aircraft used the Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approach, which provides accurate and shorter flight paths and secure trajectories.

RNP, by allowing the use of an onboard systems and satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS), frees the plane from dependence on conventional ground-based navigation installations.

An airline spokesperson said today's first regular RNP flight was 6E-345 from Bengaluru to Kochi. RNP approach would continue to be applied by IndiGo whenever its aircrafts land at Kochi, with its entire fleet being equipped with the system.

Such landings would lead to the saving of 75 km of distance on each approach, amounting to the saving of approximately 400 kg fuel per landing and therefore lesser emission of greenhouse gases, she said.

IndiGo collaborated with Airbus subsidiary Quovadis and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to develop and implement the RNP procedure, after it was successfully validated on Airbus simulators and the planes.

Commenting on the achievement, IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh said, "We are excited about partnering in this significant step towards improving air traffic management in India and making it an even safer and greener environment to fly in. The development of more such approaches in India will also go a long way towards improving safety and efficiency."

IndiGo had organised the first test flight with RNP approach at Kochi on December eight last year.