The Cochin International Airport saw a passenger traffic of 74.17 lakh during the whole of 2015, compared to the 61.05 lakh passengers during the previous year. This is an increase of 21 per cent.
Twenty-four airlines have their operations in Kochi and the airport saw a total of 56,196 aircraft movements during the last financial year, said a statement issued by Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) here on Tuesday.
The considerable size in passenger traffic prompted the airport authorities to build the new international terminal, which will be officially inaugurated on Friday.
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The Cochin international airport occupies the fourth position in the country in terms of international passengers and the seventh spot in terms of total passenger traffic.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the new terminal at a function scheduled for 5 p.m.
The 15 lakh sq. ft terminal was built in a record 24 months at an expense of Rs.1,000 crore. The commissioning of the new international terminal will see the present domestic terminal operations expanding to five lakh sq. ft.
The contract works for the terminal were carried out by 30 companies. Nearly 5,000 workers were engaged throughout the 24-month period without a day’s break in works, said the CIAL statement.
A flyover, built at a cost of Rs.34 crore, will also be inaugurated on Friday. The flyover will help the passengers reach the third level from where the flights depart.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate a new terminal on Friday