Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has become the first airport in India to facilitate international passenger processing through DigiYatra. The service was launched on a trial basis for select airlines, with the first passenger using the facility to travel to the Maldives on an IndiGo flight on October 27, 2026.
The international DigiYatra facility combines electronic passports (e-passports) with biometric facial recognition technology to verify passengers at designated airport checkpoints. The system aims to make passenger processing smoother while reducing the need to present physical documents at these points.
CIAL introduced DigiYatra for domestic passengers on August 15, 2023. Since then, the facility has gained wider acceptance, with around one in every three domestic passengers at the airport using it for their journeys.
The system runs on in-house e-boarding software developed by CIAL’s Technology and Innovation team. Building on this expertise, the airport operator plans to extend its technology solutions to other airports through its Aviation Consultancy and Expert Services (ACES) initiative.
Recently launched by CIAL, ACES aims to share the airport’s expertise in aviation operations and technology with other airports. Durgapur Airport in West Bengal is the consultancy service’s first client and will receive a passenger verification system developed by CIAL.
The expansion of DigiYatra to international departures marks another step in CIAL’s efforts to introduce technology-driven solutions and improve the passenger experience.
