[Steeroid]

Cochin CIAL (review covers International Terminal only)

4 stars

FOR:

1. Neat, Clean, well lit and well organized. The only private airport in the country and it shows.

2. Separate International and Domestic terminals with enough parking space to host autocross events.

3. Very well stocked Duty Free, probably the best in India. Run by the same chaps that operate Dubai Duty Free.

4. 20 immigration counters on Arrival. Departure was makeshift while the new departure terminal was being built, but has now been upgraded to take 20 counters as well.

5. The only A380-compatible terminal with a dual aerobridge and parkway wide enough.

6. Plenty of connections to the east of west of India through ALL the middle-eastern airlines to the west and Singapore Airlines, Silk Air and Sri Lankan to the east. BA expected to be added before the end of the year.

7. Relatively unknown Fourth largest international airport in the country, third largest in terms of International Traffic handled.

8. Excellent, clean and efficient prepaid taxi service operated by the Airport Authorities and run by people who were displaced by the airport project.

AGAINST:

1. Dining options were limited while both arrival and departure was being handled through a single structure (building). Departure now handled by a separate terminal entirely, hopefully facilities will improve.

2. Limited amenities for meeters and greeters. Its another matter that there are too many meeters and greeters!

3. Immigration is manned by Kerala Police personnel and not Bureau of Immigration Services. Takes far too long and they ask far too many questions, leading to a queue.

4. Airport Services handling (including check-in counters) was given to Air India. Not the best of services, though all airlines ensure that one of their personnel is at the counter WITH the Air India staff. Will hopefully change at the end of the year when the Air India contract runs out and Dubai's DNATA takes over.