Kochi (COK) | Cochin International Airport

[Roy Joseph]

Any possibility to get a direct flight to Australia (MEL/SYD/PER) within the next one year or two? At present it is routed through either SIN (Singapore) or KUL (Kuala Lumpur).

[rahul86]

Originally Posted by jobinjoseph

Article about CIAL in Routes Online:

http://www.routesonline.com/news/36/...ional-airport/

As per my opinion following are the potential destinations and airlines form Kochi airport. Please share your views.




COK - BKK (Bangkok) - Thai AirAsia/ Thai airways or Air India Express

COK - DQA (Male) - Maldivian or Air India Express

COK - ALK (Colombo) Srilankan Airlines/ SpiceJet

COK - RKM (Ras Al Khaimah) - RAK Airways or Air India Express

COK - FJR (Fujairah) - Air India Express

COK - FRA (Frankfurt) - Lufthansa

COK - LHR (London Heathrow) - British Airways

Frankly speaking, two of the routes are viable for passenger traffic.

COK - BKK (Bangkok) - Thai airways and
COK - HKG - Cathay Pacific

If one takes the passenger traffic on these two routes, tourists from Kerala go these locations because they are cheap and a lot of packages are available for affordable rates. Flights from LHR may survive, but I feel that FRA would make a better point for transit since we have a lot of tourists coming in from Europe.

Regards,
Rahul R

[rahul86]

Originally Posted by Roy Joseph

Any possibility to get a direct flight to Australia (MEL/SYD/PER) within the next one year or two? At present it is routed through either SIN (Singapore) or KUL (Kuala Lumpur).

Flights going to Australia do not have a direct connection. Each and every long haul flight is routed through Singapore. Singapore is a major transit hub and for the routes to survive, they have to be routed through Singapore. I am not sure about the LHR A380 flights though by Qantas, guess that is a direct flight.

Regards,
Rahul R

[krishnancv]

All Kangaroo route flights of BA SQ and Qantas have a stopover at Singapore. Middle east carriers have a stop at their home bases. SO is the case with CA and Thai. Ultra long haul to US take the Pacific route with a stopover in Los Angeles.

[mohammedirshad06]

IndiGo’s A320 became the first Indian airliner ever to fly an RNP approach at Cochin Airport, the only Indian airport to equipped with Airbus’s Quovadis RNP subsidiary.

Cochin international airport is the seventh busiest airport in India with a strong international presence – Indian major airlines and over a dozen foreign airlines.

Cochin Airport is equipped with one ILS on runway 27 and a VOR that is used for procedures on both end of the runway. Airbus and The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) have co-financed the development of Cochin Airport RNP APCH procedure on runway 27. The task was led by Quovadis, Airbus wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to Performance Based Navigation (PBN) along with its partners, CGx AERO in SYS and ENAC (Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile).

Quovadis has been working with Indian authorities (DGCA), Airport Authorities of India and two operators, IndiGo and Jet Airways, to develop this RNP procedure. The procedure brings great benefits to both the local authorities and the operators:

• Fully managed approach on contained and secure trajectories
  
• A much shorter flight path saving 40NM to operators on each approach, ie approximately 1000lbs fuel saving per landing
  
• Easier Traffic Management on uncovered radar environment

“RNP APCH, which can be flown by most modern commercial airliners, is a great way to achieve savings while promoting safety” says Paul-Franck Bijou, Chief Executive Officer from Quovadis. “RNP navigation has the necessary flexibility to optimize and protect trajectories from terrain and obstacles”.

“Flying RNP APCH at such a busy airport is a great way to ensure fully managed and stable approaches, reduce flight time and increase fuel efficiency” says Captain Kathpalia, Head of flight inspection at DGCA.

The procedure has successfully been validated on Airbus simulators, and was flown successfully today by IndiGo on Airbus A320.
The procedure will become available to all operators once officially published by the authorities.

"We are looking forward to flying commercially RNP APCH at Cochin airport in the very near future. We hope for tangible cost savings as it will improve the efficiency of our operations. But more importantly, we are excited about partnering in this significant step towards improving Air Traffic Management in India and making it a safer environment. " says Aditya Ghosh, President of IndiGo.

http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets...ort/5015566171

http://peanuts.aero/low_cost_airline...roach+in+India

[mohammedirshad06]

Foundation stone for Cochin International Airport Railway Station laid.

The Railways had limitations in spending a huge amount for providing infrastructure at new railway stations, but modern facilities could be introduced in railway stations with public-private-participation. The success saga of the Cochin International Airport Limited was a true model of public-private participation, Union Minister of State for Railways E Ahmed said here on Sunday.

He was laying the foundation stone for the halt station at Nedumbassery on Sunday evening. The new station would provide a convenient rail link to the airport.

The state government was duty-bound to expedite the disbursement of compensation for the acquisition of land taken for the development projects of the Railways, Ahmed said. Instructions were given to settle the issue regarding the Akaparambu railway gate to avoid the hardships of the local people. With the proposed construction of the new railway station at Nedumbassery, the locals were under fear that traffic through the busiest Kariyad-Airport Road would be hampered. The action council and the grama panchayat had sought the intervention of the Union Minister in the issue.
The paucity of coaches posed serious problems to the Railways in launching new train services in Kerala. Steps were being taken to make available rakes and coaches for Kerala, Ahmed said.

The halt station with a built-up area of 1000 sq m would have two platforms and 24 coaches could be stationed here. The cost for the construction was estimated to be `93 lakh. There would be a ticket booking centre and a second class waiting hall.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas presided over the function. Ministers S Sarma and Jose Thettayil, MPs K P Dhanapalan and P Rajeev, V K Ibrahimkunju MLA, district panchayat president Eldhose Kunnappally, grama panchayat president P V Poulose, Southern Railway General Manager Dipak Krishnan and Divisional Manager Rajiv Dutt Sharma spoke on the occasion.

http://expressbuzz.com/states/kerala...ry/230724.html

[mohammedirshad06]

Adding another facility to the Cochin International Airport (CIAL), a duty paid shop was inaugurated by Fisheries Minister S Sarma in front of the arrival side of the international terminal on Sunday.

Transport Minister Jose Thettayil launched the sales at the duty paid shop. K P Dhanapalan MP distributed the financial assistance of the Mascot charity project. The office-bearers of the CIAL and other departments operating at the airport were present at the opening ceremony.

The shop, being run by Mascot Enterprises, will have over 1,000 products, including electronics and white goods such as LCD Televisions, with the cost ranging from Rs 100 to 75,000.

Quality products on a par with international standard will be sold. Passengers and others can buy all the imported commodities, except liquor, at a reduced price, managing partner V V Jose said.

The duty paid shop will function round-the-clock everyday. All currencies will be accepted at the shop.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/...al/230721.html

[killerk]

TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2010 01:16

SriLankan Airlines will re-launch its services to Kochi from March 1st 2011, increasing its growing portfolio of Indian destinations to seven.

The resumption of flights links Colombo and Kerala's commercial capital Kochi on all seven days of the week.

The morning flight UL165/6 departs Colombo at 0725 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to reach Kochi at 0835. It leaves Kochi at 0925 and arrives in Colombo at 1035.

The afternoon departure UL167/8 leaves Colombo at 1420 on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays to reach Kochi at 1530 and leaves Kochi at 1620 and arrives in Colombo at 1730.

Regional Manager Indian subcontinent for SriLankan Airlines, Mr. Lal Perera says, "With the resumption of our daily service to Kochi, we will aggressively promote leisure traffic to Colombo in addition to passengers travelling via CMB to Far East, Middle East and Europe "

With 2011 being declared as the year of "Visit Sri Lanka", the country opens its doors to tourists from Kochi and will also be showcased as a vibrant MICE destination.

The resumption of seven daily Colombo-Kochi flights will also add greater impetus to "Visit Sri Lanka 2011", when Sri Lanka opens her doors to an anticipated 750,000 foreign visitors. Up to October this year, a total of 95,579 Indian tourists have visited Sri Lanka, approximately 50% higher than the number of arrivals in 2009 which amounted to 64,447. In 2011 alone, SriLankan Airlines will acquire seven new aircraft thus enabling it to fly to more cities in the Subcontinent, Middle East and Southeast Asia, and to also increase capacity to existing destinations in these regions.

SriLankan Airlines currently flies to 49 destinations in 31 countries. Kochi will be the second destination to be added to the airline's network in 2011, with SriLankan scheduled to begin flights to Guangzhou in China next month, increasing its network to 51 destinations in 31 countries.

Source: http://print.dailymirror.lk/business...cal/29862.html

[basilbaby1990]

I am really wondering why there is no Indian flights to Singapore.There is only one flight serving between these 2 route (SilkAir) and it is charging min.SGD600(INR.20000) and upto SGD2500(INR85000) this X'Mas time....This route is one of major hub for all who travelling to Europe and America and other South East countries.

This route can be served min.of SGD250 which Tiger and Air Asia doing rite now...Tiger started flying to Trivandrum now...

Just want to know,whether any potential budget airline coming to this route like Air India Express,Tiger,Spicejet .......???

[jobinjoseph]

Originally Posted by basilbaby1990

I am really wondering why there is no Indian flights to Singapore.There is only one flight serving between these 2 route (SilkAir) and it is charging min.SGD600(INR.20000) and upto SGD2500(INR85000) this X'Mas time....This route is one of major hub for all who travelling to Europe and America and other South East countries.

This route can be served min.of SGD250 which Tiger and Air Asia doing rite now...Tiger started flying to Trivandrum now...

Just want to know,whether any potential budget airline coming to this route like Air India Express,Tiger,Spicejet .......???

Tiger airways is planning to restart Kochi flight. Hopefully they will include it in 2011 summer schedule.

[ajithv]

Source : Metro Vaartha

Kochi: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed all further proceedings initiated by Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) for recruitment to various posts in the company.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice P.R. Ramachandra Menon issued the stay order on a writ petition filed by Rajesh Varma, Kochi. According to him, applications had been invited by an order dated November 20 for various posts, including Deputy General Manager (Fire), Assistant Manger (Fire), and Junior Manager Airport (Marketing) trainees. He pointed out that the qualification prescribed for the posts went against the qualification stipulated by CIAL recruitment and promotion rules. In fact, the managing director of the CIAL had prescribed a separate qualification in order to facilitate selection of candidates of his choice.

Source

Expects comments from the PR,CIAL..beenakris74.
Also,we miss this PR from the "great" updates.

[jobinjoseph]

Etihad Crystal Cargo is adding widebody service to Cochin on DEC 18th.


http://www.centreforaviation.com/pro...-crystal-cargo

[basilbaby1990]

Originally Posted by jobinjoseph

Tiger airways is planning to restart Kochi flight. Hopefully they will include it in 2011 summer schedule.

Tiger Singapore-Kochi flight was started 2007 and stopped after 3-4 months..So i dont think they will resume the same service again..Cause Tiger And SilkAir are the subsidiary of Singapore Airlines...

[Indian47]

CIAL plans cargo transhipment centre

With a railway halt station at Nedumbassery coming up, the proposal to set up a cargo village on the property of the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has become a major topic of discussion among the top executives of the airport company.

According to CIAL officials, the plan is modelled on the air traffic-based cargo villages in Dubai and Singapore and the proximity of the airport to the Vallarpadam transhipment container terminal makes it logical to convert it as a hub of national and international freight traffic.

A cargo village enables the convergence of cargo into a dedicated area through different modes of transport and the transport of cargo from one mode to another.

The plan envisages re-distribution of consignments by which the cargo originating from a foreign country is brought here by one airline and taken to the destination on a different aircraft. In addition, the arriving cargo could be transferred to sea containers and shipped to the destinations.

The proposal also points out that one end of the runway is almost close to the Periyar and a perimeter road inside the airport can hasten container transport to and from the CIAL air cargo complex. “With the upcoming railway station providing a convenient rail link to CIAL, the sufficient land area available with the airport company is a suitable spot to establish a terminal for trailers'', said a senior airport official.

According to him, the railway station proposes to provide easy access for outbound consignments of cargo even from far away places to the Cochin airport. It will also give a boost to the plans by CIAL to develop the cargo station by incorporating a multi-modal transport system linking air, land and waterways.

Senior airport officials maintain that the presence of a state-of-the-art Centre for Perishable Cargo and the parking bay for two wide-bodied cargo aircraft on the airside of the cargo complex gives it an advantage in acting as an international transhipment terminal.

CIAL has an impressive track record in cargo handling with the cargo traffic last year reaching a volume of 35,500 tonnes from a mere 1,500 tonnes in 2000. In addition, the agreement it has struck with the Fujairah International Airport in the U.A.E to open supply of fruit and vegetable consignments through linking supermarket chains, will also lead to a big surge in the freight traffic through here.

The Hindu

[mohammedirshad06]

IndiGo, the New Delhi-based low-cost carrier, has announced that it will go international in the next 240 days and will operate to destinations in the Gulf and South-East Asia from the various airports in the country, including Thiruvananthapuram and Nedumbaserry.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, in connection with the launch of flight operations to the State capital, the IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh said the airline will commence the international operations in August/September next.

The airline had plans to open base at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport and Nedumbaserry next year in addition to the existing eight bases, he said.

He told reporters that the airline will have West Asia operations from Trivandrum, Cochin international airports in Kerala. The other services will be from New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

IndiGo, which has a 16.8 per cent share in the domestic sector at present, will initially have services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Jeddah in West Asia, according to the proposal it has submitted to the aviation ministry.

Only Air India and Indian Airlines were earlier allowed to operate flights to overseas destinations. Private airlines were allowed in the international sector in 2004 under the open sky policy announced by the government.

Air India Express is the only budget airline from India operating to Gulf destinations at present. The passengers of AIE have been uneasy with delays and cancellations of flights for some time now. The arrival of IndiGo in the sector is expected to improve the passenger amenities.

“Our rate of cancellation of flights is very low compared to other airlines. We also have been offering best facilities to the passengers even though ours is a low cost airline”, the IndiGo president said.

Mr. Ghosh said the airline will procure fifty per cent of the 100 Airbus A-320 aircraft within 12 months as part of fleet acquisition. The manpower will also be increased by 25 per cent in eight months. The airline is to recruit 300 pilots, 500 cabin crew and over 600 personnel for the operations wing.

“The new flights are designed to cater to business and leisure travellers who are constantly on the lookout for new and affordable flying options,” he said.

Asked on the fare war in the domestic sector and the Director General of Civil Aviation stepping in to reduce the fares, Mr. Ghosh said he was of the opinion that the fares should be lower and affordable to encourage competition.

Thank God!!! Finally a big relief from clutches of Air India Express..... The only sad news for me is that, they haven't considered Kuwait city..... Hope they will do in near future.

[Indian47]

CIAL museum to open soon

Nedumbassery: The aircraft and airport museum, being developed by the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) under its commercial land-utilization plan, is all set to be inaugurated by February, 2011.

According to CIAL officials, the airport company had already completed the construction of a 1,20,000 sq. ft building on a 2.5 acre plot and started receiving the materials to be put on show including a fighter aircraft from the IAF base in Hyderabad.

It has been in talks with the ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation, the National Aviation Company of India Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the ISRO on the possibility of sourcing various equipment and material as museum pieces. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs.3 crore.

As per the proposed configuration of display, the growth and evolution of the global aviation industry -supported by photographs and narrations- will be showcased in four exhibition halls.

Each of the rooms will hold either a central model of different structures related with the airport industry or the models of fighter planes and choppers.

While the first hall will be dealing with the history of airports and the Indian aviation, the next hall will exhibit the evolution of airports with special reference to the growth of Indian aviation since 1912.

The project will also display the evolution of flying machines like passenger aircraft, fighter planes, helicopters, other aircraft engines and its components.

Further, there will be an area for exhibiting the replicas of the highest airport in the world, difficult airports in landing, airport with maximum features, airport in the strategic locations etc.

The house will also put on show the classification of airports, types and technical characteristics of airport runways.

The Hindu

[Indian47]

Gulf Services

AI to introduce six new flights to Gulf from Jan 11 . The Air India Express will introduce six new flights to Gulf sector from January 11. Releasing the new schedule, Aby George, Deputy General Manager, Air India said that two flights each from Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, one flight from Kochi and one from Mumbai will be operated from January 11

Source

[mohammedirshad06]

Very Very Happy news for Cochin Airport

4 new airlines planning to start from Kochi Airport by Summer 2011. Thai Air Asia, Tiger Airways, RAK Airways and Sri-Lankan airlines will be operational from Kochi Airport. This information was shared by a senior executive of CIAL during Airport conference held yesterday in Dubai.

Apart from this, Fujarah is planning to register a cargo airline with advisory and technical support of Cochin Airport, which will have Cochin as cargo gateway for South Asia.

Its good news to hear, more airlines coming to Kerala.

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Indian47

Gulf Services


Source

Air India Express is actually cheating public. They first cancelled daily Kuwait-Kochi services to 4 days, which again got reduced to 3 days. In last sept, they further reduced to 2 days and charging fares equal to Kuwait air. Then why they call it as low cost airline. They also cancelled all flights to Trivandrum. Kuwait airlines is now serving malayalees more than our national airline

I don't understand, why they increase services in places, which has so many services, like UAE or Bahrain to India, under-serving routes like Kuwait, Oman, Saudi. Air India is far better than this crap. What to do.... Bear this exploitation

[mohammedirshad06]

A nice ad about Cochin Duty Free. They have very good collections and cheap prices. I feel they should have done the ads in English too, with some more style, to cater foreign crowds too. This is for Malayalee audience only