Kochi: Despite service disruptions caused by operational constraints of certain airlines and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) crossed the 1 crore passenger mark yet again. This achievement marks the fourth consecutive financial year that the airport has reached this milestone. During the financial year 2025-26, CIAL handled a total of 1,14,42,583 passengers and recorded 73,134 aircraft movements.
Strong Monthly Performance
Adding to the strong annual performance, May 2025 emerged as the busiest month of the financial year, with total passenger traffic exceeding 11 lakh. Of the total passengers handled during 2025-26, international passengers accounted for over 54 lakh, while domestic passenger traffic stood at over 60 lakh.
Aircraft Movements
In terms of aircraft movements, CIAL recorded 31,505 international aircraft movements and 41,629 domestic aircraft movements during the period, reflecting balanced growth across both domestic and international sectors.
Challenges and Growth
Despite challenges arising from certain operational constraints faced by airlines during the second part of 2025, as well as temporary disruptions in the international aviation sector linked to geopolitical developments in the Middle East region during February–March 2026, CIAL registered a healthy passenger growth of 2.2% during 2025-26, officials informed.
CIAL Managing Director S Suhas stated that the airport's sustained growth has been driven by continuous improvements in infrastructure, passenger facilitation, and operational efficiency under the CIAL 2.0 transformation initiative. He noted that the modernisation programmes implemented have significantly enhanced passenger convenience through technology-enabled services and faster processing systems, helping CIAL maintain high standards in service delivery while accommodating rising passenger volumes.
