Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has launched CIAL Cargo Vision 2030, a long-term strategy to transform Kochi from a conventional air cargo gateway into an integrated logistics hub connecting air transport with sea, rail, road and inland waterways.
The initiative marks a major expansion of CIAL’s cargo ambitions, with a focus on strengthening specialised cargo segments, expanding cold chain infrastructure, attracting more freighter services, developing transshipment capabilities and creating stronger logistics linkages between Kerala’s producers and global markets.
CIAL has already built significant capacity for the next phase of cargo growth. Its new Import Cargo Terminal, commissioned in January 2024, has an annual handling capacity of around 1 lakh metric tonnes, while the expanded Export Cargo Terminal, inaugurated in December 2025, has increased export handling capacity to approximately 1.25 lakh metric tonnes a year. Together, the facilities provide international cargo capacity of nearly 2.25 lakh metric tonnes annually.
During FY 2025-26, CIAL handled 72,178 metric tonnes of cargo and accounted for nearly 60% of Kerala’s air cargo traffic, consolidating Kochi’s position as the state’s principal air freight gateway.
Mr S. Suhas, IAS, Managing
Director, CIAL, said: “Cargo Vision 2030 is about expanding CIAL’s role beyond conventional airport cargo handling. Kochi has the location, infrastructure and connectivity to emerge as a major logistics gateway for South India. Our focus is on creating efficient linkages between farmers, exporters, industries, airlines and logistics operators, while developing the infrastructure required for new cargo segments and multimodal movement. The objective is to build a cargo platform that can support Kerala’s access to global markets over the next decade.”
Perishables remain the foundation
Perishables continue to be one of CIAL Cargo’s strongest segments. More than 30,000 metric tonnes of perishable cargo were handled during FY 2025-26, drawing on Kerala’s production base in fresh produce, marine products and other export-oriented commodities.
Under Cargo Vision 2030, CIAL intends to strengthen this segment through an integrated farm-to-airport logistics model.
A key project under consideration is an Integrated Packhouse-cum-Logistics Park, for which a feasibility study has already been completed. The proposed facility is expected to support aggregation, grading, processing, packing and cold-chain handling of agricultural produce and other perishables before onward movement to
domestic and overseas markets.
The project is intended to create stronger connections between farmers, producer organisations, exporters and logistics operators, reducing fragmentation in the supply chain and improving access to international markets.
Cold chain and pharma logistics
CIAL is also expanding its temperature-controlled cargo infrastructure. The Export Cargo Terminal currently offers facilities in the +2°C to +8°C and +15°C to +25°C temperature ranges. Additional sub-zero storage capability, including -18°C infrastructure, is being developed for frozen and other temperature-sensitive products. Pharmaceutical cargo has been identified as an important emerging vertical. CIAL has initiated Good Distribution Practices certification for a dedicated pharmaceutical cargo handling facility of around 2,500 sq. ft., maintained within the +15°C to +25°C range. The facility is being developed with an initial targeted capacity of approximately 2,500 metric tonnes annually. The facility is expected to become operational within the next six months and is intended to strengthen Kochi’s role in pharmaceutical and healthcare logistics.
Multimodal logistics at the centre of Vision 2030
A defining feature of Cargo Vision 2030 is the proposal to extend CIAL’s cargo role beyond the airport boundary. CIAL is exploring opportunities to integrate air cargo with Cochin Port, Vallarpadam, railway infrastructure, major road networks and inland waterways.
Discussions and engagements are being pursued with railway, port and other regulatory authorities to examine how the proposed logistics infrastructure can be connected with a broader multimodal network. This could eventually support sea-air, air-sea, rail-air and road-air cargo movements, creating greater flexibility for exporters and logistics operators. Kochi’s geographical position provides a particular advantage. With a major seaport, an international container transshipment terminal, rail connectivity, highways and inland waterways located within the wider logistics region, CIAL believes the city has the potential to evolve into a multimodal cargo interchange.
Building a transshipment hub
CIAL has also developed a dedicated Transfer Cargo Security Hold Area for secure handling of transfer cargo and mail. The facility is being progressed in coordination with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other regulatory agencies and is designed to facilitate domestic-to-international, international-to-domestic, domestic-to-domestic and international-to-international transfer cargo. Subject to regulatory approvals, CIAL expects Kochi to become the first airport in India to operationalise a dedicated integrated transfer cargo facility of this nature. The move could allow cargo from different Indian destinations to be consolidated at Kochi before onward international movement, while international cargo could similarly be redistributed to domestic destinations.
It also supports the broader national objective of retaining more international transhipment cargo within India instead of routing shipments through overseas hubs.
More freighters, faster turnaround
Dedicated freighter connectivity is another major focus area. CIAL has handled a range of freighter aircraft, including Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777 freighters and Airbus A321 P2F aircraft. The airport has also demonstrated its ability to achieve a turnaround time of less than three hours for Boeing 777 freighter operations. To support time-critical cargo movements, CIAL has constituted a specialised Freighter Task Force, bringing together cargo operations, terminal handling, ground handling, airside operations, security and other operational teams. The Task Force coordinates manpower, equipment positioning, loading and unloading, priority cargo movement and real-time operational requirements. This capability is particularly important for perishables, pharmaceuticals and other time-sensitive products. Scheduled freighter connectivity has also strengthened with IndiGo commencing twice-weekly Kochi-Sharjah freighter services, operating on Wednesdays and Fridays. CIAL intends to build on this capability by attracting more scheduled freighters, new operators, larger aircraft and additional international cargo routes.
Digital cargo landscape
Technology and automation will form another important pillar of Cargo Vision 2030. CIAL is evaluating the implementation of a Cargo Community System, which would digitally connect airlines, Customs, cargo terminal operators, freight forwarders, Customs Brokers, transporters and other stakeholders. The proposed platform is intended to support paperless cargo processes, real-time cargo visibility, faster stakeholder data exchange, and improvements in cargo dwell time and truck turnaround time. The airport is also progressing the introduction of ULD weighing scale-cum-workstations, castor-deck platforms and mechanised cargo movement systems to improve handling efficiency and reduce manual intervention.
Specialised cargo capabilities
CIAL has simultaneously strengthened facilities for specialised cargo. Dedicated arrangements are available for Dangerous Goods, radioactive materials, valuable cargo and temperature-sensitive commodities, supported by additional X-ray screening and Explosive Trace Detection systems. CIAL Cargo is also ECCS-enabled, facilitates pet import and export through Animal Quarantine and Certification
Services, and has been
notified as an authorised port of entry for the import of drugs and cosmetics. It has also secured Authorised Economic Operator–Logistics Operator status from Indian Customs, strengthening its credentials in secure and compliant cargo handling.
Sustainability as a core principle
CIAL’s cargo growth strategy also carries forward the airport’s sustainability philosophy.
Both the Import and Export Cargo Terminals received the IGBC Net Zero Energy Rating in 2025. Future cargo infrastructure is expected to continue incorporating energy efficiency, green infrastructure, automation and environmentally responsible operating practices.
From Mission Cargo to Cargo Vision 2030
Cargo Vision 2030 builds on Mission Cargo, a focused management initiative launched two years ago when CIAL identified cargo as a strategic growth vertical. As part of Mission Cargo, a dedicated Cargo Marketing function was created to engage with airlines, freighter operators, exporters, freight forwarders and logistics companies. The team focuses on attracting new cargo routes and freighter services, identifying commodities and new markets, strengthening industry partnerships and translating emerging opportunities into sustained cargo volumes. CIAL has also expanded its engagement with the international air cargo industry through its association with The International Air Cargo Association, providing a platform for global networking, partnership development and cargo connectivity initiatives.
Industry outreach has been strengthened further through the International Cargo Business Summit 2026, organised in association with FICCI. Preparations are now underway for ICBS 2027, with a greater focus on transshipment, multimodal logistics, specialised cargo and new airline connectivity.
From an airport cargo terminal to a logistics gateway
The long-term objective of CIAL Cargo Vision 2030 is to redefine the airport’s role in Kerala’s supply chain. Instead of functioning merely as the point where cargo enters or leaves an aircraft, CIAL envisages a system where goods can be aggregated, processed, temperature-controlled, consolidated, digitally tracked and transferred between multiple modes of transport. The strategy therefore brings together cargo infrastructure, cold chain capacity, pharma logistics, freighter connectivity, transhipment, digitalisation and multimodal transport under a single growth framework. For Kerala’s farmers, exporters, industries and businesses, the larger objective is to create more efficient access to international markets.
For CIAL, Cargo Vision 2030 represents the transition from an airport that handles cargo to a logistics gateway that connects Kerala with the world, emphasised a communique.