KOCHI: Flyers taking the domestic terminal of Kochi airport are likely to find several eateries closed, including Curry Tree Diner, a favourite haunt of many. Fret not, it’s nothing major. Just a minor hiccup as the contract changes hands.
Travel Food Services (TFS), a leading player in the travel quick service restaurant (QSR) and lounge sector, took over the reins from Casino Air Caterers and Flight Services (CAFS) earlier this month.
CAFS, a sister company of CGH Earth, had been running the service “since day one” of the airport commencing operations.
“Kochi airport was initially at Willingdon Island. At the time, Casino Hotel of CGH Earth tended to its catering needs. In 1999, even when the airport was shifted to Nedumbassery, our service continued with a dedicated facility there,” CAFS MD George Dominic told TNIE.
There were very few flights then, and so, very few passengers, George recalled. However, drawing on his experience at CGH Earth, which involved working in the hospitality sector, he also suggested several upgrades that the airport was willing to implement. One of them was the lounge.
“It had no name, only a demarcated space. We served a buffet to business class passengers there. Later, as the number of flights and passengers increased, so did our offerings,” George said.
The year 2004 saw sweeping changes. A string of food courts, including the Curry Tree Diner, was launched in the domestic terminal, and an upgraded lounge in the international terminal.
“The lounge Earth takes its name after CGH Earth,” George highlighted.
Perhaps the most notable of CAFS’ contributions is its help in securing a bar licence at the airport. “We pushed for it as by then most of the airports in India had lounges and were serving travellers alcohol. ‘So why not Kochi?’ we asked,” George said.
By the late 2010s, there were almost 40 food courts inside the domestic terminal, all of them run by CAFS. “We offered different cuisines under different brand names. Several international brands also partnered with us,” he said. Their contract expired in December 2025.
When a new tender was called, the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), which manages Kochi airport, introduced a new clause that prevented a company already running a master concessionary (the running of food and beverage services in a facility) at the international terminal from bidding for the same at the domestic wing.
CAFS has been servicing the international terminal since it began operations in 2017. “We have won the tender again for master concessionary at T3 for another eight years,” he said.
On the restaurants at domestic terminal remaining closed, George said, “We have handed over the outlets to TFS. It will take a week more for them to set it up. Work is under way, I heard. They are an established player and will swing into action very soon.”
Though its contract has ended, CAFS is still running 2-3 outlets so as to not inconvenience travellers. “We will run them until the end of the month. The bar licence that rests with us is valid till March 31. So CAFS will run it until then without disruptions. TFS will take over on April 1,” Goerge said.
A CIAL official said work is progressing fast and the new outlets will open in a matter of days.
CAFS wins tender again
CAFS has been servicing the international terminal since it began operations in 2017
They have won the tender again for master concessionary at T3 (int’l) for another 8 years
Though its contract has ended, CAFS is still running 2-3 outlets at the domestic terminal so as to not inconvenience travellers