Cochin International Airport

Cochin International Airport is about 25 km (16 miles) northeast of Kochi city center, at Nedumbassery near Aluva. The road trip south to Ernakulam follows National Highway 544 and usually takes around an hour, longer at rush hour. Fort Kochi, on the harbor, is farther still, so allow extra time if you are staying there.

Yes. Kochi is the official name of the city, and Cochin is its older English name, still used by the airport. Cochin International Airport, Kochi Airport, COK and Nedumbassery Airport all mean the same airport, the only commercial airport serving Kochi and central Kerala. Its IATA code is COK and its ICAO code is VOCI.

Cochin airport has two passenger terminals for scheduled flights. Terminal 1 handles domestic flights and Terminal 3 handles all international flights. The former Terminal 2 building now houses the business jet terminal and the 0484 Aero Lounge, with rooms for travelers. Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 are separate buildings, so check your boarding pass before you go.

All international flights use Terminal 3, opened in 2017. Passengers arriving from abroad clear immigration and customs there. Domestic flights use Terminal 1. Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Air India Express fly both domestic and international routes, so check whether your flight is international or domestic to know which terminal you need.

Not directly. The Kochi Metro does not reach the airport yet, but Kochi Metro Rail runs the Pavandoot feeder bus from the airport to Aluva Metro station. From Aluva, the Metro runs south through Kalamassery and Edappally to Ernakulam. It is a cheap option for light travelers, but you change once and carry your own bags.

Angamaly railway station, about 5 km from the airport, is the nearest station and is on the main line through Ernakulam and Aluva. You need a taxi or auto-rickshaw to reach it. Indian Railways approved a new station near the airport in October 2025, but it is not yet open, so plan around Angamaly or Aluva.

Use the prepaid taxi counters run by CIALTOS, the airport's taxi service, where you pay before you leave the terminal. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber also operate at the airport, with pickups at the signposted areas. If someone you do not know offers a ride in arrivals, decline and use the counters, an app or a pre-booked car.

No. As at other Indian airports, only passengers with a ticket for a flight that day may enter the terminal buildings. Family, friends and pre-booked drivers wait outside the arrivals exit of your terminal, usually holding a name sign. Agree on which terminal you arrive at, Terminal 3 for international or Terminal 1 for domestic flights.

Most foreign visitors need an Indian visa or an e-Visa approved before departure, and a passport valid for the length of their stay. Since 1 April 2026 all foreign nationals, including OCI cardholders, must also file the e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing and show its QR code at immigration in Terminal 3.

Yes. CIAL's Earth Lounge offers seating, refreshments and Wi-Fi, with entry for eligible credit or debit card holders or on a paid pass. Separately, the 0484 Aero Lounge in the former Terminal 2 building is a lounge and transit hotel with 41 guest rooms, bookable in 6, 12 or 24-hour packages, plus co-working space and a gym.

Yes, two. The Taj Cochin International Airport opened in December 2024 about 500 meters from the terminals, with 111 rooms and suites. The 0484 Aero Lounge, run by the airport in the former Terminal 2 building, has 41 rooms you can book by the 6, 12 or 24 hours, which suits layovers and very early departures.

Yes. A cloak room in Terminal 3 arrivals, beside Gate 1A near the restrooms on the ground floor, stores bags 24 hours a day for a fee. It is useful if you want to explore Kochi before a late flight or leave heavy bags while you take a short trip. Check the opening details with the airport help desk if you plan a long stay.

Kochi is on India Standard Time, UTC+5:30, all year. India does not use daylight saving time, so the time difference with Europe and North America changes when those regions switch their clocks. Flight times on your ticket and booking are always shown in local time at each airport.

We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.

Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.

Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.

Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.

Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.

Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.

Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.

Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.

You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.

PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.

Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.

During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.

Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.

No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.

Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.

Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.

Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.

All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.

We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.

Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.

Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.