Kochi airport to become India’s first airport to operate hydrogen-powered buses

Cochin international airport in Kerala will become the first Indian airport to operate hydrogen-powered buses for passenger transport, following the exchange of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the Kerala Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster Foundation and Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

The MoA was formally exchanged at an event held at 0484 Aero Lounge, CIAL by K. Krishnankutty, Minister for Electricity of Kerala and chairman of ANERT governing body, and P. Rajeeve, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Law and director of CIAL, on behalf of Kerala HVIC Foundation.

The agreement relates to the supply and operation of three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses at Kochi airport as part of the Kerala Hydrogen Valley initiative under the National Green Hydrogen Mission of the Government of India. Under the MoA, K-HVIC Foundation will provide financial support for the purchase of buses, according to a communication from CIAL; funding will be limited to ₹2.90 crore per bus and overall project expenditure will be limited to ₹8.7 crore in phases.

Bus purchases are planned to be completed within 12 months. Ownership of the buses will vest with CIAL, which will bear operational and legal expenses and decide on operational models and routes.

Officials attending the event included CIAL director general S. Suhas, Kerala HVIC Foundation chairman and managing director Harshil R. Meena and senior director and scientist at the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Ranjith Krishna Pai.

Reducing emissions

The project is expected to significantly increase passenger comfort while reducing emissions from airport transportation operations. Buses will be refueled with the commissioning of the green hydrogen facility built jointly by CIAL and BPCL. It is stated that the initiative is ready for early implementation, as regulatory approvals for the hydrogen supply infrastructure are already in place.