Kochi, Tuesday, November 09, 2010 The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has tied up with Air transport IT specialist SITA to provide various facilities, including automation of the passenger check in process, aiming to project itself into a world class airport.

The five year multi million dollar agreement includes the supply of common use self service (CUSS) kiosks and over 80 Airport connect Open workstations for check in, boarding, load control and baggage areas.

Speaking to the reporters, Illya Gutlin, Vice President Airport solutions SITA, said that they were in the process of deploying similar facilities in 13 non metro airports in the country, including Kozhikkode and Thiruvananthapuram airports by early next year

The Kochi airport is the first international airport in India to be set up under the public-private partnership mode. It has received investments from nearly 10,000 NRIs from 30 countries and is now the fourth busiest airport in the country in terms of international traffic.