MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry took a significant step towards the advancement of Madurai airport by submitting a detailed memorandum to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi during his visit to Madurai on February 27th, 2024. The memorandum exclusively focused on the issues faced by Madurai airport and the necessary steps needed for its upgradation.
The Chamber appealed to the Prime Minister for Madurai airport to be declared as a 24X7 airport and to be recognized as an international airport. Additionally, they requested that the airport be included as a ‘Point of Call’ in the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with other countries. Dr. N. Jegatheesan, President of the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce, highlighted that upgrading the infrastructure facilities at Madurai airport would greatly contribute to the development of trade and industry, as well as the economic growth of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce calls for the advancement of Madurai airport, emphasizing the need for 24X7 operations, international connectivity, and runway expansion to support the region’s economic growth and enhance air travel options.
The Chamber emphasized the importance of expediting the process to make Madurai airport a 24X7 facility, rather than the current operations from 6 am to 10 pm. They stated that round-the-clock operations would encourage airlines to add more flights, allow for overnight parking of aircraft, and provide early morning departures and late-night arrivals. This, in turn, would enhance the connectivity and accessibility of the region.
Furthermore, the Chamber urged the Prime Minister to initiate steps to include Madurai airport as a point of call in bilateral air services with other countries. They emphasized that this inclusion would facilitate the operation of direct passenger and cargo flights by foreign airlines, especially those based in Singapore, Malaysia, and Gulf countries. While Madurai airport currently serves as a point of call with Sri Lanka, the Chamber highlighted the need for broader international connectivity to attract foreign airlines and enhance air travel options for passengers.
In addition to these requests, the Chamber also called for the expeditious completion of the Madurai airport runway expansion project. The runway expansion, from the current 7,500 ft to 12,000 ft, has been in progress for 12 years. The Chamber stressed the importance of completing this project along with the construction of an underpass at National Highways 45B to ensure seamless operations and enhance the airport’s capacity to accommodate larger aircraft.
In 2023, Madurai airport handled 12,89,621 passengers, including 2,20,347 international passengers and 10,69,274 domestic passengers. These numbers surpass the domestic passenger traffic handled in Tiruchi airport and the international passenger traffic handled in Coimbatore airport, highlighting the growing demand for air travel in Madurai.
Overall, the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s memorandum to the Prime Minister addressed key issues affecting Madurai airport and outlined essential steps for its upgradation and development. The Chamber remains committed to advocating for the enhancement of Madurai airport’s infrastructure and services to support the growth and progress of the region.
