Thiruvananthapuram: A new Common User Domestic Cargo Terminal (CUDCT) was commissioned at the Thiruvananthapuram airport on Thursday. The new facility is expected to boost domestic outbound and inbound cargo movement. Airports Authority of India's subsidiary AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services (AAICLAS) set up the facility as part of the centre’s directive to have a domestic cargo terminal at over 20 airports in tier two and three cities. AAICLAS chief executive officer Keku Bomi Gazder inaugurated the new facility at a function attended by Airport director George G Tharakan and top officials of various airlines.
CUDCT has been set up over about 520 square metre space that was lying underutilized in the old domestic terminal. It has been equipped with a modern x-ray device and other gadgets. Mr. Tharakan said that though 25 domestic flights were operating from Thiruvananthapuram at present, most of the airlines were not entertaining cargo because of the absence of a domestic cargo terminal.
“At present the outbound domestic cargo from Thiruvananthapuram is only around four tonne. Our estimation is that if each carrier takes an average of three tonne cargo, the cargo movement could go up to 150 tons. Similarly the inbound cargo service could be used mainly for e-commerce and courier services,” he said. The upcoming Vizhinjam port would also boost the prospects of the domestic cargo terminal, industry sources said.
