Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) plans to be the first airport in India with hydrogen-fuelled buses for passenger transport. CIAL signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Kerala Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster (K-HVIC) Foundation to initiate this project starting February 1, 2026.

According to airport officials, this initiative is part of a larger effort to reduce emissions from ground transportation operations and aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which promotes the use of green hydrogen in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise, such as transportation and infrastructure.

Through the signed agreement, CIAL will acquire three hydrogen fuel cell buses over the next 12 months at a projected total cost to CIAL of ₹2.9 crores per bus, or approximately ₹8.7 crores total for bus acquisition. The K-HVIC Foundation will provide CIAL with the financial resources to acquire the buses; however, CIAL will retain ownership and operational control of the buses.

The buses will run on hydrogen produced at a new hydrogen generating facility (1,000 kW nominal power, exact production capacity TBD) to be developed at CIAL in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL). The facility is aimed at providing a clean energy source for the airport's buses, supporting the transition away from diesel-powered vehicles.

CIAL is responsible for obtaining necessary permits and planning bus routes on airport property. The goal of this project is to replace currently used diesel buses with hydrogen buses, reducing local air pollution and carbon emissions.

The green bus project builds upon previous initiatives by CIAL to provide clean energy. The airport is already recognised for generating all its electricity from solar power, and this hydrogen bus project continues CIAL's commitment to incorporating clean energy into transportation as part of its decarbonisation strategy.

According to airport officials, hydrogen fuel cell buses will demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen-powered transport solutions in the aviation sector. While aircraft operations remain the largest source of airport emissions, ground transportation contributes a measurable portion, making it a key target for clean mobility solutions.

Data on operational performance, maintenance requirements, and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen buses will be collected throughout the project. Officials stated that these findings may help guide future policies and promote the adoption of hydrogen-fuelled transportation at other airports and large public facilities.

The agreement represents one of the first operational applications of green hydrogen mobility in India’s aviation sector, with officials indicating that similar models could be explored in other transport hubs as hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure expand.