Overview

Cochin Airport was incorporated on 30 March 1994, an international airport serving the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. CIAL ownership is distinguished by a public-private partnership in which the Kerala Government holds more than a 32% stake. 

It is the country's first airport in the world that is powered by solar energy. Various services and facilities are offered by CIAL to the customers, which include shopping malls, transportation, security services, accommodation, a centre for handling perishable cargo, maintenance and repair of aircraft, overhaul services, and more. It also works as a flight preparation organization to set forward preparing for cabin teams, pilots, engineers, and specialists for in-flight and ground back.

Cochin Airport is the busiest airport in Kerala, which is located 28 km north-east of downtown Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala, and as of November 2023. It served almost more than 63% of Kerala’s air passengers in 2024.

Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) is not listed on the stock exchange, although it has a solid base of 19,000 investors from 28 nations. The state government owns approximately 34% of the shareholding in Cochin International Airport Ltd., and the company has returned a dividend of approximately 317% since 2003-04. The Cochin International Airport share price is a point of interest for many investors, although the private status of the company means that it has no share that is publicly traded.

Services Offered

Shopping arcade

Transportation

Security services

Accommodation

A centre for handling perishable cargo

Maintenance and repair of aircraft

Overhaul services

Parking & housing

Golf course & facilities

Terminal Details

• Terminal 1 (Domestic): All domestic flights are serviced through this complex. The Domestic Terminal Complex has a floor area of around 6 lakh square feet, with a peak-hour passenger handling capacity of 2,000 incoming and 2,000 domestic outgoing passengers. It is fully equipped with modern passenger amenities to cater to domestic travelers to and from Cochin. 

• Terminal 2 (Business Jet Terminal): CIAL is the fourth airport in India equipped with a terminal dedicated to business jets. This terminal is tailored to offer customized services to charter and private jets, marking it as India’s premier Charter Gateway. Distinctively, this terminal seamlessly integrates tourism, international summits, business conferences, and the movement of high-net-worth individuals while also emphasizing cost-effectiveness in the development of an exquisite airport terminal.

• Terminal 3 (International): The new international Terminal 3 welcomed travellers in March 2017. This terminal has 5 entry gates, 84 check-in counters, and 80 immigration counters. It is equipped with 10 escalators, 21 elevators, and 3 moving walkways. Additionally, the terminal features a solar carport facility capable of generating 2.7 MW of power and accommodating parking for 1,400 cars. Together with the solar carport at the domestic Terminal 1, it constitutes the largest solar carport in the world, with a combined capacity of 5.1 MW of power and parking for 2,800 cars.

Key Highlights

• It handles most of the International Passengers, which makes it India’s 3rd largest airport.

• CIAL has a portfolio of 163 ongoing projects, of which 9 are of utmost importance and are considered highly prestigious, aligning with its ambitious expansion plans. 

• The company was able to launch three mega projects: Kannur, the 4.5 MW run of the river project at Aripara, Kozhikode, the 12 MW Solar plant in Payyanur, and the exquisite Business Jet Terminal

• Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has surpassed one crore passengers in a calendar year for the first time, which is a significant milestone for it. Cochin is the only airport in Kerala and the fourth in South India to handle over one crore passengers annually, catering to 63.50% of the state’s air travellers.

• Around 105.2 lakh passengers were handled by CIAL, with 55.99 lakhs on domestic routes and 49.30 lakhs on international routes. 

• The company also owns an 18-hole golf course (CIAL Golf Club), a trade centre (CIAL Trade and Convention Centre), and two hangars.

• As the middle-class population increases and they spend more on travelling which it is expected that the Indian domestic aviation market size is going to double by 2030, presenting business growth investment opportunities for investors.

• The domestic air freight market is expected to touch 1.1 million tonnes from 0.8 million tonnes by 2025 at a CAGR of 7-9% per annum on the back of growing e-commerce & manufacturing sectors, increasing freight-carrying capacity of planes, and better aviation connectivity to smaller cities.

• The company has consistently been paying dividends since 2003-04.

Right Issue

The Board of Directors of CIAL, in its meeting held on 14 February 2023, decided to offer 9,56,43,687 equity shares of INR 10 each for a premium of INR 40 per share (i.e., issue price INR 50 per share), totalling INR 478.22 crore to the existing shareholders of CIAL in the ratio of 1:4. The Record date fixed for the Right Issue was 22 February 2023. The Right Issue opened on 1 March 2023 and closed on 30 March 2023.

Revenue Model

The major earnings drivers of CIAL are from two sources:

Aero Revenue: It generates revenue from various sources like Landing fees, Income from cargo operations, Parking & housing fees, User Development fees, Aerobridge Charges, Passenger service fee, Income from cargo operations X-Ray screening charges, royalty income from subsidiaries, rent and services, and sale of duty-free products. 

Non-Aero Revenue: Non-Aero Revenue generates revenue from CDRSL, Rent & Services, Other Royalty, Security Training Fees, Public Admission Fees, Income from trade fair centre, Income from golf course & facilities.

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) subsidiary companies

1. Cochin International Aviation Services Limited (CIASL)

2. Air Kerala International Services Limited (AKISL)

3. CIAL Infrastructures Limited (CIL)

4. CIAL Duty Free and Retail Services Limited (CDRSL)

Dividend Details

The CIAL recommends a dividend of 45% on the paid-up value of equity shares for FY24.

IPO Details

According to the management, Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) was expected to launch an IPO soon, but the exact release date had not yet been announced.

News

As part of this visionary pursuit, CIAL signed an agreement with Air works for operating MRO and commissioned its state-of-the-art Business Jet Terminal and has entered into an agreement with Air works for operating the MRO. CIAL is also expanding the international terminal, T3, with the addition of 8 more aerobridges. After the Installation of full-body scanners and DigiYatra facial recognition systems, it will reduce the time taken by security guards while checking. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) is on its journey to elevate its aeronautical and non-aeronautical facilities to new heights.

From the non-aero side, CIAL has entered into a strategic agreement with the renowned Taj group to oversee the operation of its luxurious 112 key five-star hotel situated within the airport premises. This is expected to be commissioned in March 2024. Development of many new projects has been started by CIAL such as a Commercial Zone in front of the international terminal, Transit Accommodation, Golf Villas and sporting facilities, a City Hotel Project, etc.

Board of Directors

• Shri.Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, Chairman

• Shri. P. Rajeev, Director

• Shri. K. Rajan, Director

• Dr. V. Venu, Director

• Shri. E. K. Bharat Bhushan, Director

• Smt. Aruna Sundararajan, Director

• Shri. M.A. Yusuff Ali, Director

• Shri. N. V. George, Director

• Shri. E. M. Babu, Director

• Dr. P. Mohamad Ali, Director

• Shri. S. Suhas IAS, Managing Director

Subsidiaries

• Cochin International Aviation Services Ltd.

• Air Kerala International Services Ltd.

• CIAL Infrastrutures Ltd.

• CIAL Dutyfree and Retail Services Ltd.

• Kerala Waterways and Infrastructures Ltd.

Registered Address

The registered office of CIAL is located at Room No. 35, 4th Floor, GCDA Commercial Complex, Marine Drive, Cochin.