Considering the rise in passenger numbers in the domestic sector, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has decided to add more services to six new domestic destinations this month from the airport.
The airport authority will revamp its summer schedule by introducing Kolkata, Varanasi, Chandigarh, Ranchi, Raipur, and Lucknow to its network while improving its connectivity in established sectors. CIAL has rolled out around 60 services, and the total number of weekly services has gone up from 1,330 to 1,628.
As per the CIAL official, the trend of increasing domestic passenger numbers began last financial year. He stated that previously, the ratio of domestic to international passengers was 45:55. However, there is now a reversal, with domestic passengers accounting for around 55 percent of the total passengers. The CIAL official added, “This fiscal, we expect a growth of around 20 percent in the number of domestic passengers,” reported the Times of India.
The media outlet further added that the official said, “Considering the growth of tourists to Southeast Asian countries, including Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City, we have enhanced the number of services. The number of weekly services from CIAL to the capital of Thailand has increased to 13 after Thai Airways started three more services to Bangkok.”
Currently, there are 14 services to Singapore and 22 services to Kuala Lumpur every week. The number of weekly services to London has risen to four from three. “We have held talks with various airline firms, and many of them have expressed interest in starting services with CIAL. So, we expect that there will be a further surge in passenger turnout this year,” the official concluded.
Meanwhile, Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) posted 18 percent growth in passenger turnout during the 2023–24 fiscal year compared to the previous financial year. As many as 70,203 services were handled by CIAL, out of which around 56 lakh domestic passengers and 44 lakh international passengers travelled from CIAL.
In the financial year 2023–24, Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) recorded an all-time high passenger turnout, with over 1.05 crore passengers flying to and from various locations via the airport.
As quoted by the Times of India, an official said, “Air India Express operates six services to Kolkata. Indigo services to Chandigarh, Ranchi, Raipur, Varanasi, and Lucknow were launched in the first week of May. Air India Express has announced new service to Pune, and Air Asia has announced service to Bagdogra and Ranchi.”
Moreover, services to metro cities from CIAL have also been improved. The CIAL official claimed that there are currently 20 daily services to Bengaluru, 13 to Delhi, and 10 to Mumbai. Indigo kicked off its regular services to Lakshadweep on May 1.
The service in the Kozhikode-Kochi-Agatti segment is getting a good response. Alliance Air already operates ten weekly routes to Lakshadweep. There are services from Kochi Airport to Goa, Hyderabad, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Salem, Kannur, and Ahmedabad.
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