Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has reported a 10% increase in cargo operations for the financial year 2025–26, despite operational disruptions and geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Cargo Volume and Revenue Growth
According to a CIAL spokesperson, the airport handled 72,178 metric tonnes of cargo during the fiscal year, with international cargo accounting for nearly 76% of the total volume. This represents an increase of approximately 10% compared to the previous year. The revenue generated from the cargo segment rose to Rs 52.84 crore, reflecting the robust performance.
Key Drivers of Growth
The surge in cargo volumes was primarily driven by higher movement of perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, industrial consignments, and e-commerce shipments. CIAL's expanding cargo network facilitated this growth, enabling more efficient handling of diverse cargo types.
Infrastructure Enhancements
To support the increasing demand, CIAL launched a dedicated 'Trucking Centre' aimed at streamlining landside cargo movement and improving overall logistics efficiency. Additionally, the airport's cargo infrastructure underwent major capacity enhancement during the year. The expansion of the Export Cargo Warehouse has increased the airport's annual export cargo handling capacity to 1,25,000 metric tonnes, positioning CIAL for future growth.
These developments underscore CIAL's commitment to strengthening its position as a key cargo hub in the region, even amid challenging geopolitical conditions.
