KOCHI: The new winter schedule of flight services from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) that came into effect from Sunday saw a considerable increase in the international and domestic flight movement from the airport compared to the summer schedule, said CIAL authorities.
The overall weekly air traffic of Cochin International Airport has increased from 1,142 movements in the summer schedule to 1,294 aircraft in winter schedule 2016. This is comprised of 315 international arrivals, 322 international departures, 325 domestic arrivals and 318 domestic departures. Kuwait Airways, Malindo Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines in international sector and Air Asia India, Indigo and Air Pegasus in domestic sector have increased their frequency of operations in the winter schedule.
Kuwait Airways have increased their frequency of operation from 14 flights [7 ARR/ 7 DEP] to 24 flights [12 ARR/ 12 DEP] per week. The additional flight KU 357/358 will operate from or to Kuwait at 23:45/00:45(+1) hrs local time on all days except Wednesday.
Malindo Air has also increased their frequency of operation from 14 flights [7 ARR/7 DEP] to 22 flights [11 ARR/11 DEP] per week. The additional flight OD 233/234 will operate to or from Kuala Lumpur at 10:15 hrs local time on all Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Saudi Arabian Airlines has planned an additional flight SV 744/745 to or from Jeddah at 20:00/21:50 hrs local time on Tuesday and Friday effective from December 2, 2016.
The Air Asia India increased their frequency of operation from 28 flights [14 ARR/14 DEP] to 70 flights [35 ARR/35 DEP] per week. Kuwait Airways is also scheduled to operate with narrow bodied aircraft A320 in place of A300 and have increased their movements into Cochin.
As per the new winter schedule there will be 99 flights to Delhi, 57 to Mumbai and 56 to Bangalore weekly. Besides, there will be 60 weekly services to Dubai. There are 35 flights to Abu Dhabi per week; 34 to Muscat; 28 to Sharjah; 18 each to Kuala Lumpur and Doha; 15 to Jeddah; 14 each to Singapore and Colombo and seven to Bangkok. During the last year, the airport has also witnessed a footfall of around 77 passengers, said airport authorities.