With its strategic location near major sea and rail links, Kochi International Airport (CIAL) is positioning itself to become a key cargo hub in South India. This year marks the silver jubilee of cargo operations at the airport, and operator Cochin International Airport Ltd is planning to transform Kochi into a fully integrated multimodal logistics hub.
“Cargo business is booming at Kochi airport, but the potential is far higher,” said Satish Kumar Pai, General Manager and Head of Cargo at CIAL. The airport plans to link cargo operations via the Periyar river and the Nedumbassery rail line, creating an integrated logistics ecosystem.
CIAL’s expansion strategy includes upgrading infrastructure and facilities across several sectors — perishables, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, pet handling, and farmer-led exports. Currently, Kochi airport handles nearly 60% of Kerala’s air cargo, with perishables forming its strongest segment. “We export around 100 tonnes of vegetables every day, with a large volume also coming from Tamil Nadu. Kochi is recognised as one of India’s key perishables cargo centres, backed by a dedicated 25,000 sqft facility,” an official said.
E-commerce is another major growth area. CIAL is among only nine airports in India approved for e-commerce cargo operations. While exports, mostly to the Gulf and Europe, tend to be seasonal, the airport is reaching out to cottage industry hubs such as Tirupur and Coimbatore to boost volumes. Kochi is preferred over Coimbatore, which lacks several international cargo certifications.
Imports at Kochi remain low due to Kerala’s limited industrial base, though the airport currently handles around 56,000 tonnes of import/export volume annually via passenger flights. “Once cargo freighters start calling at Kochi, volumes will jump significantly,” said a CIAL cargo official. Talks are ongoing with airlines to facilitate this.
CIAL registered a 9% growth in international cargo in 2025 compared with 2024. As part of its expansion, a new import cargo terminal spanning 1 lakh sqft was opened in 2024, alongside an expanded export warehouse of equal size. Plans are also underway for a dedicated ‘pack house’ to ensure exported goods meet destination country specifications.
The airport’s animal quarantine facility, established under the Integrated Quarantine Certification Scheme, has positioned Kochi as one of only seven Indian airports approved for pet handling. Certification for pharmaceutical exports is also being pursued.
Kerala’s cargo sector, including airport and seaport operations, records an annual turnover of around ₹35,000 crore, with nearly 57% contracted through Kochi. To strengthen the ecosystem further, CIAL plans to set up an incubation centre to train new exporters in regulatory compliance, documentation, and market access. “The incubation centre will facilitate seamless knowledge exchange among airport operators, facilitators, and regulatory agencies,” a spokesperson said.
The upcoming International Cargo Business Summit, organised in association with FICCI, will be the first step in bringing stakeholders together. Scheduled for January 31 and February 1, the summit will feature an exhibition with 54 pavilions by airlines, freight forwarders, customs brokers, logistics firms, and institutions.
