CHENNAI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has prepared a two-phase plan to improve the capacity and efficiency of Chennai airport following the state government’s decision to cancel the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur. The plan aims to increase the number of flights the existing airport can handle and improve passenger facilities while the state considers options for a new airport.
According to official sources, the improvements could give Tamil Nadu another 15 to 20 years to develop a new greenfield airport. However, a final location for the proposed airport has not yet been decided. Until then, the AAI plans to make better use of the existing facilities at Chennai airport to meet the growing demand for air travel.
One of the main goals of the plan is to increase the number of aircraft movements the airport can handle every hour. Currently, the airport manages around 18 aircraft movements an hour. Under the first phase, this is expected to increase to 36 movements an hour, with a further rise to 45 movements in the longer term.
Chennai airport currently handles around 2.3 crore passengers annually, while passenger growth is reported at nearly 2.4%. Its existing capacity is about 3 crore passengers a year. The planned improvements are expected to increase this capacity and provide more room for future passenger growth.
The airport’s annual passenger-handling capacity is expected to rise to 3.5 crore by April 2027. An AAI official said Terminal 1 would handle 1 crore passengers annually. Terminals 2 and 3 together would have a capacity of 1.6 crore passengers after the ongoing work is completed. Terminal 4 would provide an additional capacity of 90 lakh passengers a year.
These changes are expected to help the airport handle more passengers and reduce pressure on its existing terminals. Better use of terminal space and improvements to airport operations will be important as passenger numbers continue to increase.
Another major part of the plan involves improving the runways. The AAI is developing rapid-exit taxiways, which allow aircraft to leave the main runway more quickly after landing. This helps reduce the time an aircraft occupies the runway and allows another aircraft to use it sooner.
Seven rapid-exit taxiways are planned for the main runway, while three are planned for the secondary runway. These works are expected to be completed by March 2028. Once operational, they could help improve aircraft movement and reduce delays caused by limited runway availability.
Aircraft parking is another challenge at Chennai airport. At present, only nine domestic and four international aerobridges are usable. Aerobridges allow passengers to walk directly between the terminal building and an aircraft without using buses.
Because of the limited number of aerobridges, some aircraft have to park at remote stands away from the terminal. Passengers are then transported between the aircraft and the terminal by buses, which can add time and inconvenience to their journeys.
To address this problem, the airport plans to increase the number of aerobridges to 17 and provide 23 parking bays by April 2027. These improvements could allow Chennai airport to accommodate up to 23 aircraft at the same time, according to the reported plan.
The proposed changes are intended to improve passenger movement, increase aircraft-handling capacity and make airport operations more efficient. They are also expected to help Chennai airport manage additional flights without immediately requiring a new airport.
Overall, the AAI’s two-phase plan focuses on expanding passenger capacity, improving runway efficiency and increasing aircraft parking facilities. While the long-term requirement for a new greenfield airport remains an important issue for Tamil Nadu, the planned upgrades are expected to help Chennai airport meet travel demand in the coming years.