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  About Kochi

Kochi is one of the most dynamic cities and the commercial capital of Kerala. The city is constantly bustling while its surrounding remains true to its agricultural roots. Kochi, as a city, plays an essential port to the South-west coast of India. The ports are connected to the Maldives, Lakshadweep Island and many important coastal cities.

Despite having a blend of various seasons, the heat and humidity in the air continue to remain constant. However, that only makes travellers fly to Kochi instead. Not to mention how the gorgeous setting of the city and its impeccable connectivity that allows a traveller to traverse through various terrains.

Best time to visit Kochi

Kochi sees multitudes of seasons and climate all-year-long. Throughout the year, even know specific seasons are set and have been followed, every year, sudden twists in the western forecasts leave the locals in peril. The tropical setting of Kochi and even Kerala it ideal for summers and even winters. In fact, the months from October to February are actually enchanting and the best. The temperatures dawdle between 17 degree Celsius and 33 degree Celsius. Not only is the winter season perfect for backpackers and solo travellers but also couples and newlyweds who wish to go to honeymoon in Mumbai itself.

The months from March to June marks the start of summer in Kochi. The temperatures in Kochi during summer continues to escalate up to 37 degree Celsius. Although it is considered to be a good season to visit the city, it is only because there is less crowd. On off-seasons, tourists avoid visiting places as they fear unpleasant experiences. However, flying to Kochi on off-season might be helpful as people wouldn't have to deal with the excess tourist crowd. Plus, flight tickets to Kochi see some massive price drop. Many airlines also have flight deals to bring down the cost of a ticket to Kochi.

Monsoons in Kochi are exceptional. Even though it is not a peak season for the city as a rain-washed city would not be favourable for tourist activities, many travellers opt for monsoons. The main reason behind choosing monsoon as the best time to catch a flight to Kochi is that the city's lush greenery turns emerald as the backwaters dance under the torrent rains. Booking a hotel in Kochi during this season is also affordable as it is an off-season for hoteliers. The whole sight of the place is enchanting and definitely an unmemorable experience. Kochi experienced monsoon between July to September.

Places to see in Kochi

The gorgeous Arabian sea might border Kochi on one side, and the towering Western Ghats on the other but the melange of the two varied geographies only makes the city alluring. When in Kochi, you should definitely check out some of its famous beaches namely, Veeranpuzha Beach, Cherai Beach, Munambam Beach, Fort Kochi Beach and more. The city also has many pristine churches that should be visited. These are St Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilican and the Paradesi Synagogue.

Besides these attractions, Kochi also has museums like Indo-Portuguese Museum, Ginger House Museum Hotel, Folklore Museum, and more than would enlighten you about their cultural heritage, their history and more. Not just the beaches but you should also check out what the lush green valleys close to Kochi have to offer. You can witness the Athirapally Falls and the Areekkal Falls. More than anything, you can visit the famous Lulu Shopping Mall too, which is right there in the city centre. You can further continue the pilgrimage by visiting temples such as Shiva Temple, Gowreeswara Temple Cherai, Ernakulam Mahadeva Temple, Thrikkakara Temple and more.

Things to do in Kochi

Elephant Training Centre

A little away from the city of Kochi is an adorable retreat for elephants. An Elephant Training centre has been established by the Ernakulam district where the animals are brought together to live in harmony. At the centre, these elephants are bathed and fed properly. The centre takes good care of the elephants and even allows visitors to come over and play with the giant animals. Visit this beautiful place and feel happy in the company of playful elephants who would keep you entertained with their goofiness.

Fort Ayurveda Spa

Kerala's Ayurvedic spas are world-renowned and for all the right reasons. The therapeutic massages and spa treatments actually help rejuvenate the body, mind and soul. Kochi has the Fort Ayurveda Spa, which lives up to the reputation of providing the customers with excellent services. Book an appointment here and let your troubles be washed away by the gentle touch of a masseuse. The experience will be beautiful and certainly have a lasting effect on you.

Kathakali Centre

The classical dance form of Kathakali is enchanting and compelling. The performances usually have a backstory and a theme based on which the whole show is presented. The art would keep you engaged as the eyes of the dancers would hypnotise you. Often these performances express a certain Hindu mythological story.

Snorkelling at Thiruvankullam

Compared to other parts of coastal India, Kochi has extremely beautiful and clean beaches. The shores are just as bright and spotless as is the Arabian sea that touches the coasts. The clean and clear waters of Kochi have enabled snorkelling in the area. You can head to Thiruvankullam and take up the water activity. You will be surprised to see some exquisite marine life that's prevalent just miles away from the city of Kochi.

Backwater tour

Kochi connects to Alleppey, which is the hub of backwaters in Kerala. Although it is a few kilometres far from the main city, Alleppey has a harbour from where you can either choose a houseboat or a shikhara ride to explore the gorgeous backwaters lined by rice paddies.

Food and restaurants

Kochi's lifestyle is heavily inspired or rather influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and English. This is easily reflected in their way of living, lifestyle and more importantly, their cuisine as well. While they still have their special curry and parotha as the highlight of the state, the landscape of Kerala cuisine has seen quite a lot of transformations. As a coastal city, the cuisine mainly centres around exquisite seafood and Malabari food. As a developed city of India, Kochi manages to sustain the traditional cuisine as it also embraces other cuisines such as Asian, North Indian, Continental and more.

Sky Grill Lounge and Bar, Fort House, Asian Kitchen, The Rice Boat, Dhe Puttu, Fusion Bay are some of the finest restaurants that you will find in Kochi. You might not know this, but Kochi actually has a lot of quaint cafes to cater to the backpacking audience. In the city and close to the coastal area, you will find small joints and ventures that have a hipster vibe and attract the young crowd. It is a known fact that the seafood in Kerala is a delight to the taste buds. The city centre will acquaint you with not just exciting dishes but also taste and flavour that will be unforgettable.

How to reach Kochi (Transportation)

By Air

The Cochin International Airport, located 29 km away from the city centre sees excellent flight connectivity from Kochi to other major cities in India. In fact, the airport also has flights taking international routes from Kochi to Middle Eastern countries. Kochi airport is known to be one of the busiest and crowded airports thanks to the excellent connectivity it has with the other cities in the country as well as internationally. A plethora of flights fly from Kochi to cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur and more. The city is always on demand and hence, getting good flight deals for Kochi becomes quite challenging. However, with good planning and timing, you might be able to get cheap flight tickets to Kochi and even decent flight deals.

By Rail

Just like the flight connectivity of Kochi with the rest of the major cities in India, even the railway network is strong. There are two railway stations, namely Kochi Railway Station and Ernakulam Junction Station that connect the city with the rest of the country. There are express trains too that travel to Kochi from Mumbai, Delhi and other big cities. Train tickets to Kochi can be booked online as well as physically at the railway station. The city is well-connected within the state too and has bus and railway services to ensure that the city's stature as one of the economically strong and developed places sustains.

By Road

Kochi has impeccable roadway network as well owing to the city being a commercial hub. The city doesn't just contribute to the state's economy but also to the country's and hence, is blessed with strong roadways network. Several buses enter and leave the city from various parts of the country. The neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, even Goa, have bus facilities that provide services to the city. The Kerala State Run Transport Corporation (KSRTC) travels through several cities, including Kochi. There are options for AC and Non-AC buses that you can choose from for your travel needs.

  About Air India Express

Air India Express is a recognised low-cost airline subsidiary of India's national flag carrier airline Air India. The airline's headquarters is located in Kochi, Kerala. All the operations of Air India Express are carried under Air India Express Limited. In total, Air India Express operates about 649 flights in a week to over 33 destinations in the domestic routes and international routes. The airline has recorded to carry close to 4.3 million passengers in a year to about 140 city pairs. Along with Kochi, the airline's second hub is also in Kerala's Kozhikode. Operations of Air India Express commenced in 2005 when it launched three flights that took off from three of Kerala's cities, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kochi. The main idea behind introducing the low-cost carrier was to bring forth convenient connectivity for short-haul international routes such as the Middle East and Southeast Asian cities. The airline mainly catered to the expatriate community of India settled in these countries. With a surge in the popularity of low-cost carrier, Air India also joined the bandwagon by introducing Air India Express as its response to the world. Air India Express also caters to domestic routes of Indian cities along with short-haul international cities.

The airline enjoys a decent six per cent market share in its origin country, India, while also receives a 13.3 per cent market share in the India - Gulf travel market. In 2016, the airline announced that they had earned a net profit for the first time since its genesis. Accounts of the same suggest that Air India Express made a net profit of about USD 51 million (INR 361.68 crore) in the financial year 2015-16 against a registered loss of INR 61 crore, recorded in the same financial year. In the same year, the airline witnessed a surge in passenger load factor, which stood at 82.3 per cent, as opposed to the 81.4 per cent recorded in the previous year. The daily aircraft activities also increased from 10.8 hours to 11.3 hours following a surge in demand for the airline. It managed to carry about 2.80 million passengers in the financial year 2015-16.

In 2016-17, the airline witnessed yet another year of profit with its net revenue standing at USD 42 million (ISD 296.7 crore). The total revenue also saw growth with the amount adding up to USD 470 million (INR 3,335 crore). The average aircraft activities recorded also witnessed a spike from 11.3 hours to 12.2 hours daily. Capacity offered by Air India Express further enhanced as it went up to 33 per cent. Significant changes and progressive increase in the fleet size was also witnessed. From 17 aircraft, the airline roped in a few more aircraft to bring its fleet size to a total of 23. In 2018, the airline yet again announced a net profit of USD 37 million (INR 262 crore), making it a hattrick for the airlines.

Fleet size of Air India Express

As of 2020, Air India Express' fleet size stands at 25 which only consists of Boeing 737-800s. The Boeing 737 Next-generation or commonly referred to as 737NG or 737 NextGen, is a narrow-body aircraft that is powered by two engines and is produced by the parent company, Boeing Commercial Airlines. The same was launched in 1993 as a third-generation derivative to the Boeing 737. The aircraft offers several perks and upgrades such as a larger wing with a wider wingspan and better fuel capacity with higher maximum take-off weights. The aircraft is also equipped with CFM International CFM56-7 engines along with a glass cockpit and an upgraded interior configuration and layout. The modern aircraft is both, economically efficient and ecologically sound for the operations of Air India Express. They are perfect for short and medium-haul flights and have hence, been used by the airline for its operations.

Baggage Allowance

Air India Express' baggage allowance varies from the international cities it caters to. For hand baggage, the airline allows a maximum weight of 7 kg that can be carried in the cabin. The weight includes duty-free shopping bags as well. The total dimension of the baggage should not exceed 115 cm and is free of cost per passenger. It is essential for such bags to fit under the seat in front of the passenger or in the overhead bin. Along with the 7 kg hand baggage, Air India Express also allows an additional piece of bag that could include a handbag or a laptop bag. In case the baggage allowed as hand luggage exceeds the weight as stated by the airline, then extra charges will be applied. The airline does recommend the passenger to carry only valuable articles in the hand luggage. Often when the hand luggage exceeds the weight specified by the airline, the passenger is requested to check-in the bag.

As for checked baggage, Air India Express allows the passengers to carry about 40 kg for adults and children while baggage of infants can weight up to 10m kg. These are the weight requirements for first class passengers. The business class passengers are allowed to carry about 35 kg weighing baggage. The economy class passengers are allowed to carry 25 kg weighing bags. The weight, as stated by the airline, should not be exceeded by the passenger. Excess baggage weight will attract tariffs levied by the airline at the airport. Not to mention how the dimensions of the baggage are crucial. The checked baggage cannot have a dimension exceeding 158 cm. Additionally, you are allowed to purchase extra weight for the baggage that can be found at the airport's check-in counter. While both the classes do not offer special baggage for travellers with infants, they do allow the carrying of one extra handbag to cater to the needs of the baby's products.

In-flight services

As part of their in-flight services, Air India Express brings exquisite facilities such as comfortable leather seats with legroom. Passengers can also choose a seat ahead of the journey on the airline's website. Further, seat preferences can be chosen while booking an Air India Express flight too. The hospitality experienced on an Air India Express flight is top-notch as the trained staff are very friendly and accommodating. There are provisions to help out passengers travelling with kids as well. One can request for noise-cancelling headphones and further enjoy the in-flight meals catered by the airlines. The food on Air India Express flights is truly a revelation and something that many passengers have affirmed.

Popular routes and top cities for Air India Express

The airline's network to a majority of Gulf destinations includes about 33 cities and service of 649 flights in a week. Air India Express' low-cost flights can be availed by travellers who take up some of their flights such as Air India Express Dubai, Air India Express Doha, Air India Express Kuwait, Air India Express Riyadh, Air India Express Abu Dhabi, Air India Express Salalah and more. They are perfectly connected with Indian airports on the West coast of the country. As for its Southeast Asian operations, the airline has phenomenal connectivity as well. Air India Express Singapore services enable network connectivity to cities in the South India such as Chennai, Madurai, Kochi, Trichy and Coimbatore.

As of 2020, Air India Express provides flight services to international cities such as Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Doha and Kuwait City, to name a few. The domestic route connections of Air India Express is just as impressive. It caters to many metropolitan as well as small cities in the country.

Why travel by Air India Express?

Air India Express is a low-cost carrier that enables cheap and affordable flights to passengers. The airline offers an array of the domestic route and international route connections which help make it a viable option for many travellers. Not just the connectivity but even the in-flight services experience on Air India Express is quite decent. Although, as low-cost carriers, not a lot of world-class in-flight services can be enjoyed, the airline still brings the best facilities to offer a comfortable journey to its passengers. With the growth in its popularity, the airline has also enabled several new features that help travellers pick the said airline for their journey. These include receiving a dedicated Air India Express flight schedule on the airline's website, facilities of web check-in for passengers, learning more about the flight status, to name a few.

Further, you can also book an Air India Express flight from various online travel portals as the option is available on all sites. You might even receive some benefits and combo offers that cannot be missed out. If these are reasons enough for you to pick Air India Express, then there is always the flexibility to choose from a first-class, business class and economy class comfort. The airline's flights do accommodate these cabins and are ideal for passengers who wish to get the comfort and space that an economy class might not provide.

  About Cochin Airport

Cochin International Airport is located 25 km away from the city of Kochi, at Nedumbassery, in the state of Kerala. The Cochin Airport is the first airport in the country that has been developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The project is funded by about 10,000 non-resident Indians (NRI) sprawled across 30 countries. The airport is known for its busy status as it is the most active in the state of Kerala. The airport is also the largest in the state. Cochin International Airport provides to ap[proximately 61 per cent of passenger movement. The Cochin Airport is also recognized nationally as the fourth busiest airport, with respect to international traffic and eighth most active overall.

About Cochin Airport Terminals

There are three main terminals at the Cochin International Airport. While two of them cater to the domestic terminal, the third one works as an international airport. Terminal 1 was previously used for international flight activities. However, with the new and improved Terminal 3, the international operations were shifted there. The terminal caters to the domestic airlines and operations and can accommodate 4,000 passengers per hour. There are 56 check-in counters, six private lounges and seven aerobridges with a conveyor belt that transfers baggage of about 12 flights at once. Terminal 2 offers an executive experience with CUTE enabled check-in counters, four self-check-in kiosks and six security gates with a space to handle about 400 passengers at once. The terminal was converted as an executive terminal much recently. The international Terminal 3 came into existence in recent times. Built with the Kerala architecture and influence from the Thrissur Pooram, the terminal boasts exquisite fibre elephants adorned with traditional costumes. There are five entry gates, 84 check-in and 80 immigration counters.

About airport authority

The Cochin International Airport is owned by the public limited company, formally known as Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), which is a public-private consortium. The Government of Kerala also holds ownership in the venture with 33.36 per cent stakes. The government is the largest investor in CIAL while various Indian and foreign organizations also have stakes on it. Companies such as BPCL, AAI and Air India have a collective stake of 8.74 per cent. Meanwhile, foreign organizations such as Emke Group from Abu Dhabi, Galfar Group of Oman and Majeed Bukatara Trading of UAE hold 5.42 per cent stake. There are many more players in the venture too such as Federal Bank, Canara Bank and SBT. 38.03 per cent of stake is collectively owned by approximately 10,000 personal investors panned across 29 countries. These are non-resident Indians with stakes in CIAL.

Facilities at the Cochin Airport

Luggage facility: The airport has a slew of services available pertaining to the luggage. There are free luggage trolleys available at the entrance of the airport as well as at regular counters till the check-in. The terminal also allows porterage services where you can avail help from a professional to escort your luggage from one point to another. The porterage services do come for free for senior citizens, expectant mothers, physically disabled individuals, minors and more. It is imperative that you coordinate with the respective airlines to avail the services. Along with porterage and trolleys, the airport also offers baggage wrapping services. You can get your luggage wrapped in plastic to protect them from theft, mishandle and other concerns.

Child care room: The Cochin airport has designated child care centres in the domestic as well as international terminals. This comes in handy for mothers with infants. Women with kids can make use of the room to feed and change diapers. The room also has other provisions of baby products, including toys, to help soothe the child, if needed. The centre is well-sanitized and is maintained perfectly to ensure the hygiene of the space. Mothers must find it safe and healthy.

Information desk: The information desk is available at regular intervals. The space offers all details about the airport, including a map of the airport. The desk provides all the necessary information regarding flights, airlines, boarding gates and other such concerns even if you need to find specific places such as the lost and found and VIP rooms.

Conference halls: One of the major highlights of the Cochin Airport is the conference halls that it has. You can host meetings and other such conventions at the airport. It is excellent and quite convenient as it helps save time for all the parties involved. Business professionals can simply meet at the airport, wrap up the conference or convention and take their flights to return to their cities. It is a convenient setting and hence, is most favoured.

Postal facilities:

Cochin airport has postal facilities as well that work perfectly for the passengers. In case there are some important documents and letters that need to be posted, you can make it happen at the airport. Postal services are available at both the terminals.

Restaurants and cafes: Kochi airport's domestic wing has only a few food establishments in the food court. The international terminal of the airport does have a decent slew of restaurants and food establishments that you will find.

Pre-paid taxi services: From the airport, there are many pre-paid taxi services outside the airport. Outside the airport, the officials have segregated the parking spaces in such a way that specific pillars and lanes are dedicated to taxi cabs. Depending on your bookings, you will be directed to the specific pillar or lane for taxis.

ATMs and Forex: Foreign exchange counters and ATM kiosks are present at regular intervals in the airport.

You can make your currency exchanges and even get a good rate at the airport. You can also withdraw cash at the ATMs to ensure that you have enough money in hand.

Medical facilities: Much like every airport, even Cochin airport has medical services. It is a necessary protocol that needs to be followed by all the airports to have medical facilities. The possibility of a medical emergency is always prevalent at airports.

VIP lounge: The airport has exemplary VIP lounges and guestrooms for special people. Travellers who have first-class tickets or premium memberships at specific airlines will get access to the private lounges or VIP rooms. These lounges and rooms have upscaled luxury services with great hospitality.

Top airlines flying from the Cochin Airport

Cochin International Airport is recognized as one of the largest and busiest airports in the state of Kerala. With an air passenger movement of approximately 61 per cent, the airport easily becomes a busy one in the state. The Cochin International Airport also witnesses tremendous international traffic. As many flights directly fly to Middle Eastern countries from Cochin and witnesses a high demand too, the international traffic is just as busy as the domestic terminal. Cochin International Airport also serves as a base to the operations of the airlines Air India Express. Aside from Air India Express, the airport also sees many other important domestic airlines such as Air Asia India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo, Indian Airlines, SpiceJet and Vistara. There are three passenger terminals with Terminal 3 (international terminal) being the largest terminals in the whole country.

Earlier Terminal 1 served as the international terminal. However, after a massive upgrade that took place and with the genesis of Terminal 3, the international flight activities shifted to the other one. The capacity is also quite good, with over 4,000 passengers per hour. Some of the international airlines that fly from Cochin Airport are Air Arabia, Air Asia, Air India, Air Jazeera, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Oman Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai AirAsia and Tiger Airways. These airlines majorly cater to the passengers flying in and out of Middle Eastern countries. As the demand for the Middle Eastern countries is very high in the state of Kerala, quite a few airlines have direct flights to those international destinations. Cochin airport houses airlines that directly connect with cities such as Muscat, Kuwait, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh and Jeddah.

How to reach Cochin Airport

There are various ways to reach Cochin International Airport. Buses, taxis and private vehicles can reach you to the Cochin airport without any hassle. There are dedicated buses that travel to the Cochin International Airport. Often many travel to Cochin Airport to reach places such as Alleppey, Munnar and other prominent tourist destinations in Kerala. While the main city does have the main bus stand, there are many bus routes that connect to the airport. These buses have destinations such as Ernakulam, Padma, Thrissur, Fort Kochi, Angamaly, Kaloor and Ernakulam-Vyttil-Thoppumpady, to name a few.

Another famous and favoured way to reach Cochin International Airport is by pre-paid taxis. There are taxi counters available close to the domestic and international terminals. There are booths available within the premise of the airport too from where you can make your taxi bookings. Even outside the airport, there are taxi counters from where you can get your taxis. Ride-sharing services are also available with apps such as Uber and Ola at work. Often many travellers even opt to reach other cities in the Ernakulam district by booking a taxi. To further enhance your trip, the airport also has rental services available. You can make a booking at the taxi counter as well.