Cochin International Airport in the State of Kerala, India, has become the country’s third busiest Airport (after Delhi and Mumbai) for International Passenger Traffic, for the five month period from January 2021 to May 2021. This is despite the fact that India is currently experiencing its most aggressive outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
For the aforementioned five month period, the Airport handled 589,460 International Passengers, and for the month of April, it was the second busiest Airport in india for International Traffic, with 138,625 Passengers.
Furthermore, Cochin International Airport Limited, who operate the Airport, have stated that the surge in Passenger Traffic has also been witnessed in Domestic Traffic, with levels in June alone doubling to that of previous months. Indeed, overall Cochin International Airport has climbed from the country’s fourth busiest Airport to the Podium.
In summary, Cochin International Airport handled a total of 1,556,366 Passengers during the first five months of 2021. Pre Covid-19 pandemic, the Airport handled ten million passengers, so if the upward trajectory of recent months continues, then the recovery outlook for India’s Aviation sector appears positive.
Kerala A Safer Haven From The Covid-19 Pandemic
Cochin International Airport Limited have since rolled out a comprehensive Covid-19 Testing Program, which has been at the epicentre of their Air Passenger Traffic growth in recent months. The initiative has been strongly backed by the State Government of Kerala. Cochin International Airport Managing Director, Shri. S.Suhas IAS, said, “The Kerala government installed free RT-PCR testing facilities at all Airports for International Arrival Passengers. An integrated travel facilitation strategy was launched at the Airport whereby officials of District administration, health, revenue, police departments have been working round the clock for increasing the comfort level of the Passengers.”