On 01 February, 2026, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the development of a multimodal cargo network which will integrate air, road, rail, and water routes, with Cochin International Airport (CIAL) serving as its primary hub.

The announcement was made during the plenary session of the International Cargo Business Summit, organized by CIAL in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), as part of CIAL's 25th anniversary celebrations. The Chief Minister highlighted CIAL’s success in handling over 65,000 tonne of cargo in the previous financial year, with expectations to reach 74,000 tonne in the current year.

The airport is working towards certification to handle pharmaceutical products, which will begin immediately upon approval. Industries Minister P Rajeeve emphasised that the presence of global logistics companies near CIAL would further boost cargo movement in the region.