In view of the runway re-carpeting work at Calicut International Airport, three major airlines — Air India, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Etihad Airways, have shifted the operation of their wide-bodied/midsize aircraft to Cochin International Airport from May 1.
As per the new schedule, Air India flights from Riyadh on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays will land in Kochi by 10.55 p.m. and return by 2 a.m. the next day. Barring Tuesdays and Fridays, the Air India flight from Jeddah is scheduled to land on all days at 7.05 a.m. and return at 6.30 p.m.
The flights of Saudi Airlines from Jeddah will land here at 11.45 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and will return at 1.30 p.m. Another flight in the Jeddah-Dammam-Kochi
-Dammam-Jeddah sector will operate on Sundays at the same time while its direct flight from Jeddah will conduct its services on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The Etihad Airways is slated to commence its extra services other than the normal services from Kochi from May 15. The flights from Abu Dhabi will arrive here at 7.40 a.m. everyday and return by 8.30 a.m.
Passenger flow
According to Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) officials, steps are in place to manage the additional flow of passengers. The new flights will be scheduled to lean traffic hours.
With the increase in footfall, CIAL hopes to augment its income from landing and parking charges, apart from expanding airport retailing. Alongside passenger and flight traffic, the airport company also expects an upswing in cargo movement.
The airport had made facilities to accommodate the extra passengers and flight in view of the shift in services to Kochi, said airport director A.C.K. Nair.
