Cochin Airport Now Permits Pets on International Flights

Kochi: Good news for pet parents who frequently travel between India and the Middle East! Cochin International Airport (CIAL) has introduced a pet export service, allowing travellers to take their pets with them on international flights without leaving them behind. The inaugural flight included a Lhasa Apso pup named Luka, who travelled from Kochi to Dubai via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, marking the first successful international pet export from the airport.

S Suhas, the Managing Director of CIAL, expressed the airport’s commitment to providing world-class facilities, like those at India’s major international hubs. He highlighted CIAL’s focus on offering a range of services for passengers, including the automation of touchpoints, enhanced amenities, and upcoming advanced security systems, such as full-body scanners. As part of these advancements, CIAL is also preparing to launch an animal import service, ensuring that Cochin will have comprehensive pet travel facilities.

Milestone: First Pet Export from Kochi to Dubai

The Lhasa Apso, Luka, belongs to Rajesh Susheelan and Kavitha Rajesh from Thiruvananthapuram. Rajesh, who works in Dubai, coordinated Luka’s relocation, benefiting from the newly introduced pet export service at Cochin Airport. Until recently, pet export services were not available at many airports in India, making the process more complicated. CIAL’s new authorization for international pet shipments now makes it the only airport in Kerala with such permissions. Previously, CIAL only permitted pets on domestic routes.

To support this new service, CIAL has established a 24-hour air-conditioned pet station, a specialized cargo area, on-call veterinary support, customs clearance, and a facilitation centre for travellers with pets. With these amenities, CIAL can now manage pet exports as cargo to a wide range of international destinations.

Pet Import Services Coming Soon  to CIAL 

With the pet export service in place, CIAL is now working towards securing permissions for pet imports. To meet international regulations for pet safety and quarantine, the airport is setting up a dedicated “Animal Quarantine” centre. CIAL already operates a “Plant Quarantine” centre for importing and exporting fruits and plants, making the airport well-equipped to manage various quarantine needs.

Once operational, the pet import facility will make Cochin International Airport a comprehensive hub for pet travel, catering to the needs of international travellers looking to relocate with their furry friends.