The international passenger traffic from Cochin International Airport Ltd has registered an 11.75 per cent increase for the nine months ending December 2012 compared to the corresponding previous period.
The total number of departing passengers (international) increased to 10,92,097 during April to December 2012 compared to 9,67,430 in the corresponding previous period. The number of arrivals clocked 11,06,454 as against 9,99,866 in the previous period.
The total passenger movement was 21,98,551 as compared to 19,67,296. During the period, two domestic carriers — IndiGO and SpiceJet — started flying to Dubai from Kochi.
International passenger traffic from CIAL is mainly skewed towards West Asia. The passenger profile comprises of non-resident Keralites in the Gulf region.
A.C.K. Nair, Airport Director, said though it may be premature to arrive at firm conclusions, the increase in passenger movement could be an indicator of a revival in economic activity and improving business sentiment in the Gulf, which was hit hard by the global economic crisis in 2008 and the subsequent financial crisis faced by Dubai.
However, on the domestic front passenger movement saw a dip of nearly 9.8 per cent for the nine-month period. The total number of domestic passengers was 14,57,513 as against 16,16,473 in the previous period.
The dip could be attributed to the ongoing crisis plaguing the domestic aviation sector in the country. Kingfisher Airlines, which operated 1,450 services during the previous year (April - Dec 2011), completely withdrew operations in the current period, he said.
Another interesting feature is the increase in the operation of business jets. The number of non-scheduled flights increased to 475 movements as against 265 during the previous period, which is an increase of almost 80 per cent, he added.