Cochin International Aviation Services (CIASL) has announced a Rs 50 crore project aimed at positioning Kochi as a key aircraft maintenance hub in India. CIASL Chairman S Suhas inaugurated the foundation-laying ceremony for a new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hangar-cum-covered parking facility at Kochi airport.

Spanning 53,800 sq. ft., the hangar is expected to be completed within eight months and will serve narrow-body commercial aircraft, business jets, helicopters, and seaplanes. “This hangar is part of our mission to establish a complete aviation ecosystem in Kerala. It supports our goal of self-sufficiency in aircraft maintenance, brings foreign exchange earnings, and creates high-skilled jobs for the state,” Chaiman Suhas said.

The hangar will include 7,000 sq. ft. of office and workshop space, component repair facilities, and non-destructive testing capabilities. Importantly, the project includes Kerala’s first-ever covered aircraft parking facility—an enclosed 3.5 lakh sq. ft. apron area accommodating up to 13 narrow-body aircraft. This will protect aircraft from monsoon damage and coastal corrosion, enhancing Kochi’s appeal for corporate and charter operations.