Cochin International Airport (CIAL) in India is aiming to become the first airport in the world to waive landing charges by 2012, according to comments made by Managing Director, V.J. Kurian at yesterday?s India Duty

Free Workshop which is being held at the Le Meridien hotel in Cochin.
Kurian said that the privately owned airport company plans to replace landing fee revenues with non aeronautical revenues and better utilisation of owned real estate.
Speaking at the workshop which has been organised by Alpha Kreol and CIAL and in association with Duty Free News International, Kurian pointed to a number of achievements already attained by Cochin Airport.
He said it was the first private sector airport to be built from nothing at a cost of $60m and Cochin Duty Free was already the biggest duty-free shop operation in India, with average sales of $17,000. He added that provision to handle the new Airbus A380 jumbo aircraft has already been made at the location. Approximately 150 delegates attended the workshop which ends today.