Cochin Airport (IATA code: COK) is an international airport serving the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) owns and operates the Kochi Airport, which is the first airport in the country built under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. It is also the first ever airport in the world fully powered by solar energy. Cochin Airport, located 28 km north-east of downtown Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala, is the third busiest airport in the country in terms of international passenger movement and seventh largest in terms of total passenger volume. As of 2022, the Cochin International Airport caters to 61.8% of the total air passenger movement in Kerala. The airport operates three passenger terminals, including an exclusive Business Jet Terminal which is also India’s first charter gateway.
Aviation is one of the fields which is being reprimanded for the production of greenhouse gases. CIAL believes in the responsibility to venture into projects producing green energy and thereby lessening our carbon footprint. In 2015, Cochin International Airport became the world's first fully solar powered airport with the inauguration of a dedicated solar plant. CIAL also ventured into a hydroelectric project which was commissioned in 2021. The hydropower plant located at Iruvanjippuzha in Arippara, Kozhikode district, has an installed capacity of producing 4.5MW.
CIAL also inaugurated a new solar power plant on 06th March 2022 elevating its status of being a power neutral airport to a power positive airport. The 12 MWp Payyanur plant is situated at Ettukudukka near Payyanur, Kerala. With the commissioning of Payyanur plant the cumulative installed capacity of solar plants of CIAL has been scaled up to 50 MWp. These include seven plants functioning in the premises of the airport, a solar carport and the one at Payyanur. CIAL’s solar power plants together generate two hundred thousand (2 lakhs) units of power a day whereas the airport’s daily power consumption stands at 1.6 hundred thousand units. For this entrepreneurial vision, the airport won the coveted ‘Champion of the Earth’ award in 2018, the highest environmental honour instituted by the United Nations.
Though not listed, the company has a strong base of 19,000 investors from 28 countries. Most of them are expatriate Keralites who has been nurturing this airport as one of the ambitious endeavors materialized by the State Government who is the largest investor with a stake of around 34 %. The company has been paying dividend since 2003-04 and the total dividend paid out has touched 317 %. The airport has 3 terminals; altogether boasts a peak hour handling capacity of 8000 passengers.
One of CIAL's standout achievements is its commitment to sustainable energy practices. By using green energy, CIAL hopes to contribute in its way to a healthier and greener planet. Aviation is one of the fields which is being reprimanded for the production of greenhouse gases. At this juncture, CIAL believes in the responsibility to venture into projects producing green energy and thereby reducing our carbon footprints. In 2015, the airport installed a massive solar power plant, becoming the first airport in the world to operate entirely on solar energy. This initiative has not only reduced the carbon footprint but has also significantly reduced operating costs. At present, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) generates a remarkable 73 million units of clean and green energy on an annual basis. cumulative installed capacity of CIAL’s green projects is 50 MW. CIAL generates 2 lakh units of power daily, while its daily power consumption stands at 1.6 lakh units. This impressive power production positions CIAL as the second-largest power producer in Kerala.
After incurring great losses during the financial year 2020-'21, CIAL became the only airport in India to register a profit in the financial year 2021-'22. In the fiscal year 2021-22, CIAL recorded a profit of Rs. 37 crore. In the FY 2022-’23, CIAL posted a record profit in its history, an operating profit of Rs. 521.50 Cr and a net profit of Rs. 267 Cr. Also, the company was able to launch three mega projects - the 12 MW Solar plant in Payyanur, Kannur, 4.5 MW run of the river project at Aripara, Kozhikode and the exquisite Business Jet Terminal.
CIAL is now embarking on an ambitious journey with a portfolio of 163 ongoing projects, of which 9 hold utmost importance and are considered highly prestigious, catering to its ambitious expansion plans. It aims to further enhance its infrastructure, including the construction of a new 5 star hotel in partnership with the acclaimed IHCL (TAJ) group, a new transit accommodation, renovated cargo terminals, utilization of commercial spaces in front of the international terminal and additional aircraft parking bays. The airport also envisions becoming a major center for aircraft maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) services of both domestic and foreign carriers.