Nedumbassery: In a significant development for pet owners, Kochi’s Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has introduced new facilities that enable passengers to bring pets such as dogs and cats from abroad. A dedicated quarantine centre has been established at the CIAL cargo terminal to ensure the safe and compliant transportation of these animals. The new centre includes essential amenities like a sample collection unit and freezers to store necessary medical samples, which are crucial for the quarantine process.
Previously, passengers who wanted to bring pets into India through Kochi had to undergo a cumbersome process, obtaining special permissions and fulfilling various complex formalities. This lengthy procedure limited the number of animals being transported. However, starting in November, once all technical formalities are completed, travelers will be able to bring their pets more easily into Kochi, streamlining the process significantly.
Cochin International Airport now joins other major airports in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, which already provide such facilities. Since July, passengers have also been allowed to take pets abroad from Kochi. The newly established Animal Quarantine and Certification Service Centre (AQCS) was inaugurated by Union Minister George Kurian, following a contract signed between the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department and CIAL. Currently, permission is limited to dogs and cats, but this marks a major step forward in making Kochi a pet-friendly travel hub.
