The Union Cabinet has approved upgrading Madurai airport, which was operating as a customs airport, to an international airport. With this, Tamil Nadu will have four international airports under the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Passenger airports are broadly classified as domestic, international and customs airports. In Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore are currently functioning as international airports, while Madurai had so far been in the customs category with limited overseas operations.
The upgrade is expected to improve access for travellers from Madurai and surrounding districts, many of whom have been relying on Chennai or Tiruchirappalli for international travel. Officials and observers expect more international services to become possible from Madurai following the status change.
Aviation experts, however, said the benefits will depend on airlines adding routes and capacity. They noted that airlines often operate on a hub-and-spoke model and that airports need focused service planning and route strategy to translate an upgraded status into sustained international connectivity.
Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran and AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran thanked the Union government for the decision.
