The Hindu Business Line : 6 airlines keen to start service from CIAL

AS many as six new airlines, operating in the domestic as well as in the international sector, have expressed their interest to commence service from the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL).

Kingfisher Airlines, Paramount Airlines and Go Air are among the domestic airlines that have shown interest to start service from Kochi, whereas Malaysian and Mahan Airlines are the two international airlines which have promised to start operations from Kochi within four months, said Mr V.J. Kurian, Managing Director, CIAL. With the starting of six services, the number of airline companies commencing operations from Kochi will rise to 18, he added.

Since the commencement of operations in June 1999, Mr Kurian said that the airport had seen a growth in traffic from 3,243 flights in the financial year 2000 to 9,343 flights in the financial year 2005. The passenger traffic had also increased from 0.5 million passengers from 2000 to 1.6 million passengers in 2005.

The growth in traffic is reflected in the company's revenue receipts, which have gone up from Rs 16 crore in 2000 to Rs 100 crore in 2005. The pre-tax profit for the year 2004-05 is Rs 48 crore. In the first four months of the current fiscal, he pointed out that the company had registered a pre-tax profit of Rs 20 crore.

On the commencement of budget airlines from Kochi, he said that the Government has asked CIAL to conduct a feasibility study. The study is being done by Ernst & Young and the report is awaited.

The State Chief Minister is expected to inaugurate the new arrival block of the international terminal on Saturday. CIAL had invested Rs 20 crore for the construction of the arrival block with a total built-up area of 1,78,000 sq ft in a three-storeyed air-conditioned building. Other facilities scheduled for inauguration on that day are Airbus 380 Apron and the New Arrival Duty Free Shop.

The Apron for Airbus 380, which would be commercially operational by late 2006 or early 2007, has a parking bay of 100-metre width and 137-metre length. There would be a modern Visual Docking Guidance System and Automatic Fuel Hydrant System installed in the parking bay, he said.

According to Mr Kurian, the company is awaiting the final report from the consultants Ernst & Young on the proposed development plans of CIAL in its 400 acres of land. The draft report given by the consultants had been placed in the last board meeting. The land use plan is aimed at enhancing revenue, traffic growth and developing economic activities in the State.

CIAL is planning to undertake a phased development of commercial activities in its free hold land. On implementation of the developmental plans, the total investment is expected to be over Rs 3,500 crore, he added.

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