Kerala - Kochi   

CIAL registers growth in international traffic

KOCHI: In keeping with its ranking among the airports in the country in terms of international passenger and flight traffic, the Cochin International Airport Limited has registered growth in both these areas during the 2006-07 fiscal. The airport continues to occupy fourth rank among the airports in the country.

The total number of international passengers who passed through the airport increased from 11,54,717 in 2005-06 to 14,29,172 during 2006-07, thus registering a growth rate of 23.77 per cent.

The aircraft movement in the international sector registered a growth rate of 23.84 per cent, rising to 14,172 flights (including 36 non-scheduled flights) in the 2006-07 period as against 11,444 flights (including 21 non-scheduled flights) in the previous fiscal.

Two budget carriers, the Sharjah-based Air Arabia and the Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways, set up shop at Kochi airport during the period.

The launch of Jazeera Airways brought much cheer to the Non-resident Keralites, as the demand for an airline offering budget fares in the Kuwait sector was a longstanding one.

Indian maintained the top position in terms of flight movement, though the number dropped slightly to 3,204 as against 3,257 in the previous fiscal.

Air-India Express, the budget carrier of Air-India, rose to second position with 2,552 flight movements, a substantial increase of 1,230 movements from the previous fiscal.

Air-India dropped to third with 2,112 movements as its budgetary arm took over the bulk of the services.

SriLankan came next with 1,134 movements, an increase of 82 movements from the previous fiscal, even as it continued to maintain the top position among the foreign carriers.

Air Arabia leapt to fifth position in its inaugural year of operations through the Kochi airport with 778 services.

Emirates came next with 740 flight movements, an increase from 588 movements. Oman Air dropped two places as against the previous year and came seventh with 716 aircraft movements.

Silk Air dropped a place and came eighth with 610 movements. Qatar Airways maintained the same position as the previous fiscal with 552 movements.

Gulf Air with 526 movements, Mahan Air with 358, Kuwait Airways with 356 and Jazeera Airways with 182 movements occupied the remaining positions.

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