KOCHI: Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) registered 17.8 per cent growth in overall passenger traffic in 2016 compared to the previous calendar year. The growth in cargo traffic is nearly 16 per cent.
Details of operations for 2016 released by CIAL here on Thursday said the total passenger traffic through the airport in 2016 stood at 87,36,061. Of these 37,64,640 were domestic passengers and 49,71,421 international passengers. During 2015, CIAL served a total of 74,16,053 passengers. Of these 30,03,497 were domestic passengers and the rest international passengers. Airline services at CIAL went up to 61,463 during 2016 as against 56,196 in 2015.
The figures from CIAL also showed that the growth in international passenger traffic was 12.67 per cent, while domestic passenger traffic grew by 25.34 per cent.
Air Asia’s direct service to Thailand and introduction of more frequent flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore triggered the increase in the number of passengers using the airport.
Cargo
On the cargo front, the airport did well in 2016. The overall cargo growth has been 15.6 per cent. The volume grew to 85,339,10 tonnes in 2016 as against 73,849,20 tonnes in 2015. Of the total cargo moved through the airport, perishable cargo made up for 58,261 tonnes.
December saw the highest number of passengers using the airport. The number stood at 8,19,395. The lowest (6,14,531 passengers) was in February 2016.
Considering the growing volume of passengers, a 15-lakh-square ft. international terminal is being readied for commissioning. Once the facility is commissioned, the present international terminal will be converted into domestic terminal.
