Kochi Airport To Deploy India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Airport Buses

Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) is set to introduce India’s first hydrogen-powered airport buses, marking a significant advancement in sustainable mobility within the aviation sector.

The initiative is part of Kerala’s broader clean energy transition and aligns with the Government of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.

The project follows the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Kerala Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster (HVIC) Foundation and CIAL on February 1.

The agreement facilitates the procurement and deployment of three hydrogen-fuel-cell electric buses for passenger transportation within the airport premises.

According to the official release, the Kerala HVIC Foundation will provide financial assistance for the procurement of the buses, with funding capped at ₹2.90 crore per bus.

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The total project cost has been estimated at ₹8.7 crore and will be disbursed in stages. Procurement of the hydrogen-powered buses is expected to be completed within 12 months.

Once the buses are delivered, ownership will be transferred to CIAL, which will oversee operations, statutory compliance, route planning, and service deployment.

The MoA exchange ceremony took place at the 0484 Aero Lounge at Kochi airport and was attended by senior government and industry stakeholders.

Kerala Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty, who also serves as chairman of ANERT, represented the Kerala HVIC Foundation. Kerala Industries Minister and CIAL Director P. Rajeev signed the agreement on behalf of the airport operator.

Key dignitaries present included CIAL Managing Director S. Suhas, Kerala HVIC Foundation Chairman and Managing Director Harshil R. Meena, and Department of Science and Technology Senior Director Dr Ranjith Krishna Pai.

Hydrogen fuel cell buses are considered a next-generation zero-emission transport solution, producing only water vapour as a by-product.

Compared to conventional diesel or even battery-electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered buses offer advantages such as quicker refuelling times and longer operational range, making them particularly suitable for high-usage mobility environments like airports.

For the aviation sector, the introduction of hydrogen-powered ground transport aligns with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and develop integrated green airport ecosystems.

The project is expected to position Kochi airport as a national pioneer in adopting hydrogen-based mobility solutions.