CIAL in talks with foreign airline cos for freight services

Encouraged by growing cargo and passenger traffic, Cochin International Airport (CIAL) is wooing foreign airlines to operate cargo freighters and a passenger aircraft from Europe to Kochi. CIAL is in negotiations with Luftansa and Gulf Air to bring their cargo freighters to Kochi. CIAL MD S Bharath told ET the talks are in an advance stage. The cargo traffic from the airport is projected to go up to 50,000 tonnes .

“We are planning hub and spoke method for attracting cargo. Kochi will act as a hub and collect cargo from surrounding areas like Tirupur, Coimbatore, Kannur, Alappuzha etc,” Mr Bharath said. CIAL is eyeing garment consignments from Tirupur and Kannur, light engineering goods from Coimbatore apart from spices and seafood in Kochi. Since accessibility to Kochi airport is easier than to Chennai from Tirupur and Coimbatore, Mr Bharath reckons exporters will use the cargo freighter facilities here to cut logistic costs.

Source: Economic Times