Gopinath eyes tie-up with Cochin Airport

New Delhi: India's pioneer of low-cost carriers GR Gopinath is in talks with Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), India's first privately operated airport, to set up a joint venture for dedicated cargo facilities across the country.
Sources in CIAL said these cargo facilities will be set up on a hub-and-spoke model. Nagpur or Hyderabad will act as cargo hubs and other small facilities across the country will be set up as the spokes with warehousing facilities. Several unused airstrips in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are being considered for the smaller facilities.
"Cargo facilities are something we are definitely looking at. While Gopinath will select the land, we will handle the operations of the airport," said S Bharat, CIAL managing director.
"The plan is still in the preliminary stages, but we have talked to CIAL for setting up cargo facilities," confirmed Gopinath, who is vice-chairman of the company which is in the process of being set up after the merger of Air Deccan with Kingfisher Airlines.
According to sources, the hubs will cover around 800 acres of land and will entail an investment of over Rs 500 crore.
15/04/08 Anirban Chowdhury/Business Standard

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Categories: Airports Apr 2008, Cargo Apr 2008, New Apr 2008