The Air Kerala project would be a reality once the Centre decides to waive the criteria of 5-year domestic flying experience and ownership of 20 aircraft, chief minister Oommen Chandy said.
He stated this after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 800-crore terminal at the international airport at nearby Nedumbassery last night.
Air Kerala is a Rs 1,000 crore project that Cochin International Airport Ltd has envisioned for development and the government is committed to supporting them, the chief minister said.
Solar power production of the airport as part of making CIAL a green project was inaugurated by Industries minister, PK Kunhalikutty, while Finance minister KM Mani opened the 52,000 sq ft state-of-the-art duty free warehouse.
Food minister Anoop Jacob inaugurated the Integrated Airport Mangement system for making the airport paperless.
Union minister K V Thomas said the Centre had sanctioned a 'plant quarantine plant' for the airport. CIAL, which operates India's first private public partnership (PPP) airport, is building a new terminal for international passengers.
