Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has, for the third year in a row. handled more than a crore passengers in 2025. This highlights the airport’s steady growth and its ability to sustain high traffic volumes amid changing airline capacity and market conditions.
CIAL handled a total of 1,15,19,356 passengers, recording a year-on-year growth of about 4.85 percent over 2024, when passenger traffic stood at 1,09,86,296. The addition of around 5.33 lakh passengers during the year confirms CIAL’s consistent ten-million-plus performance for the third consecutive calendar year. Growth was evenly spread across domestic and international segments, reflecting the airport’s balanced route network.
May 2025 emerged as the busiest month of the year, with passenger numbers crossing 11.07 lakh. Strong traffic was also recorded in January and December, with 10.44 lakh and 10.06 lakh passengers respectively, demonstrating CIAL’s capacity to maintain robust volumes throughout the year rather than relying on seasonal peaks.
The airport recorded 74,689 aircraft movements in 2025, marginally lower than the 75,074 movements seen in 2024. The decline was mainly due to a reduction in services by certain airlines. Despite this, overall passenger traffic continued to rise, indicating improved load factors and more efficient operations.
According to S. Suhas IAS, managing director of CIAL, the sustained growth has been strongly supported by CIAL 2.0, the airport’s comprehensive transformation initiative. The programme has focused on improving terminal transit, ease of movement and processing speed through digitised systems. Upgraded terminal ambience and technology-driven passenger amenities have also contributed to better transit efficiency and higher passenger satisfaction.
As part of its ongoing push towards digitisation and security modernisation, CIAL plans to introduce full body scanners in the near future. The move is expected to strengthen security screening standards while reducing physical checks, including frisking, thereby improving passenger comfort in line with global aviation security practices.
