New departure terminal at Nedumbaserry to be functional by Oct-Nov.

Kochi, Apr 5 (UNI) The new departure terminal at the Nedumbaserry International Airport here, being constructed at a cost of Rs 40 crore, will be functional by October-November this year, Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) Managing Director S Bharat said.

CIAL, which is operating the only joint sector airport in the country, netted a turnover of Rs 110 crore during 2006-07 and is targeting Rs 122 crore revenue this year, Mr Bharat said.

Talking to reporters at a function at the Cochin Duty Free Shop, Mr Bharat said the shop had recorded a sales turnover of Rs 32 crore during 2006-07, which was a 40 per cent increase over the previous year. It was targeting to earn Rs 40 crore this year.

He said the average spend per passenger at the Cochin duty free was 38 USD and it was being targeted to increase this to 41 USD this year.

Mr Bharat said the new departure terminal at the Nedumbaserry International Airport will be functional by October-November this year. It will be spread over an area of 14,000 sq. ft.

The duty free shop at the departure terminal would stock additional items such as cosmetics, travel accessories and clothes.

Stating that the Cochin duty free was cheaper even than Dubai, he said the shop offered various international branded products and local handicrafts and curios at the lowest regional price.

UNI