Upgraded Thoothukudi airport to strengthen cargo and industrial connectivity
The upgraded Thoothukudi airport with extended runway, nightlanding facilities and newly constructed terminal, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 26 (Saturday).
With Thoothukudi emerging as one of the leading destinations for industrial hubs, the upgraded terminal is expected to provide greater convenience for industrialists, businesspeople and the general public from Thoothukudi and neighboring districts.
D.R. Kodeeswaran, President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Thoothukudi, emphasized the airport's strategic location between two major urban clusters, namely Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.
He stated that Thoothukudi is among the most promising investment destinations in southern Tamil Nadu. Mr. Kodeeswaran further pointed out the large-scale projects envisaged in the region, including the outer harbour project of V.O. Chidambaranar Port, ISRO's new rocket launching pad at Kulasekarappatinam, furniture park at SIPCOT premises, Vietnamese manufacturer VinFast's plant in Thoothukudi.
He also stressed the need to enhance air connectivity to key destinations such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Kochi. Currently, only IndiGo and SpiceJet operate from Thoothukudi and he emphasised the importance of attracting more airlines.
He noted that the Thoothukudi airport has shown a passenger growth rate of 15.2% in 2024-2025 compared to 2023-2024.
Meanwhile R.Edwin Samuel, Former Chairman of CII, Thoothukudi said, ' We have also requested that the airport be upgraded to International status soon, especially to operate flights to countries like Male, Colombo and Dubai.' He added that with the district also evolving as a major spiritual tourism hub, the inauguration of the new terminal comes at an ideal time.
'As the SIPCOT in Gangaikondan is poised to welcome several prominent companies, improved air connectivity in the region will play a crucial role in supporting industrial growth,' he concluded.
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