New international departure terminal at Nedumbaserry Airport opened

Kochi, Aug 2 (UNI) The new international departure terminal of the Nedumbaserry International Airport, equipped with the latest 'Common User Terminal Equipment' (CUTE) system, was inaugurated today.

The new terminal, spread over 62,000 sq. ft., will be fully operational by next week, Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) Managing Director Sreeram Bharath said.

For this week, only a few flights would be handled through the new check-in area, which will have 19 counters. Subsequently, the number of counters would be increased to 43, Mr Bharath said.

Stating that the facilities at the new departure terminal were on par with the best international airports in the world, Mr Bharath said all the counters were equipped with the 'CUTE' system, which would enable all airlines to be connected to their parent systems.

This would facilitate quicker check-in of passengers.

All check-in counters would also have dedicated display system which will have additional branding facility for the customer airlines. All airlines would be provided with dedicated First Class and Business Class counters in addition to the Economy counters.

Mr Bharath said the length of the main baggage conveyor was 50 meters, which will enable the ground handling agency to cater to 20 baggage trolleys or containers at a time. CIAL was planning to add one more baggage conveyor shortly.

The airport was also planning to provide on-line screening facility, he said.

The operations at the new check-in counters were inaugurated by CIAL Directors C V Jacob and N V George besides Mr Sreeram Bharath.

Among others present at the function were Federal Bank Chairman M Venugopal, CISF Commandant Rajeev Pant, Executive Head of Air India P C Sinha, Asst. Commissioner of Customs G S Kuruvilla and Nedumbaserry Airport Director A C K Nair.

Meanwhile, at another function, the airport duty free shop launched its Onam 'Thani Thankam' offer in which five lucky shoppers would win 99.99 per cent pure 24-carat Swiss gold coins every day.

Federal Bank Chairman M Venugopal drew the names of the first five lucky winners at the function.

UNI