Kochi to Become Aircraft Maintenance Hub: CIAL Unveils ₹50 Crore Project
Cochin International Aviation Services Ltd (CIASL) has embarked on a ₹50 crore project aimed at transforming Kochi into a major aircraft maintenance hub. Construction has officially commenced for the third massive hangar at Cochin International Airport, designed for aircraft maintenance operations.
The new hangar, spanning 53,800 square feet, will be complemented by a 7,000 square feet dedicated office space, workshop, and facilities for component repair and non-destructive testing. The project is targeted for completion within eight months. Currently, major aircraft maintenance centers in India are located in Nagpur, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, besides Kerala.
Within Kerala, facilities exist in Thiruvananthapuram apart from Kochi. However, Kochi uniquely boasts infrastructure directly connected to the runway. The new hangar will accommodate two aircraft and will be the state’s first hangar with covered parking facilities. A 3.5 lakh square feet parking area will allow 13 narrow-body aircraft to be parked simultaneously. S. Suhas stated that this new project is expected to generate over 400 direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect employment opportunities.