Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a change in the operator of Chennai International Airport. In his letter dated August 5, 2026, Vijay asked the Centre to consider handing over the airport’s operation, management and future development to an operator other than the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
A copy of the letter has now become public. In it, the Chief Minister expressed concern about the airport’s passenger traffic, aircraft movements and cargo operations. He argued that Chennai needs a better-managed airport to support Tamil Nadu’s growing industrial and investment activity.
According to figures cited in the letter, Chennai airport handled 23.01 million passengers during the 2025-26 financial year. The airport’s existing passenger-handling capacity is around 27 million passengers a year and is expected to increase to 35 million after ongoing expansion work is completed.
The letter also noted that Chennai had fallen to sixth place in passenger traffic among major Indian airports as of April 2026, with Kolkata moving ahead. Vijay said passenger numbers had grown only slightly compared with the airport’s pre-pandemic traffic levels.
Aircraft movements were another concern raised by the Chief Minister. The letter said Chennai airport had a declared peak capacity of 36 aircraft movements per hour, while it handled 158,702 aircraft movements during 2025-26. This worked out to an average of about 435 movements per day, including around 320 domestic and 115 international movements.
Vijay also highlighted the airport’s cargo operations. According to the figures cited in his letter, cargo aircraft movements at Chennai increased by about 6% in May 2026, compared with 14.5% growth recorded at Bengaluru during the same period. The Chief Minister said Chennai should make better use of its existing infrastructure to improve cargo activity.
The letter listed several other concerns, including passenger access, taxi services, parking, maintenance of restrooms and seating areas, air-conditioning problems, baggage delivery and long waiting times at security and immigration counters. It also referred to delays in completing Phase II work at the international terminal.
Vijay linked the airport’s performance to Tamil Nadu’s wider economic ambitions. Chennai is an important centre for automobile manufacturing, industries, information technology and tourism, and the letter argued that the city needs airport infrastructure that can support passenger and cargo growth as well as future investment.
The request has also led to debate over whether changing the operator would amount to privatisation. The CPI and CPI(M) have criticised the proposal, while the state government has said the request is aimed at improving airport management and facilities. Tamil Nadu Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar has said the proposal should not automatically be described as privatisation.
The Chennai airport is currently operated by AAI, and the proposal would require a decision by the Union government. The issue is likely to remain a subject of discussion as the Centre considers the state government’s request and the future development of one of Tamil Nadu’s key transport facilities.