Stakeholders call for interim facility to expand Coimbatore airport’s passenger capacity to 10 million per annum

Stakeholders propose interim facility at Coimbatore Airport to meet growing air traffic demand, urging authorities for immediate action.

A section of stakeholders have urged authorities to consider establishing an interim facility at Coimbatore International Airport to meet the region’s rapidly increasing air traffic demand, ahead of the construction of the new airport.

‘Coimbatore NXT’, an initiative of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), arranged a stakeholders’ meeting on airport planning and development on Monday and it presented a proposal for an interim facility before Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar.

Mr. Giriyappanavar, who projected Coimbatore airport’s passenger handling potential to 15 million per annum by 2031–32, stated that the proposal would be deliberated with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and necessary follow-up actions would be taken.

According to Coimbatore NXT, the airport currently handles 3.25 million passengers annually and with an occupancy rate of 89.53%. The airport, which is the second busiest one in Tamil Nadu, is ranked 22 in the country. The Coimbatore – Tiruppur region is ranked as the 10th richest metropolitan area in India by GDP, highlighting the region’s strong economic influence and potential for greater air traffic. The cargo throughput has also surged, with 12,139 tonnes handled in 2024–25, marking a 36% year-on-year increase, it said.

The current terminal that has the capacity of 3.63 million passengers per annum could reach saturation by 2025–26. AAI has projected a requirement of 5.1 million passengers per annum by 2027–28 and the completion of the new integrated terminal building is anticipated by 2031–32.

Stakeholders wanted an interim solution by expanding the airport’s handling capacity to 10 million passengers per annum, until the new integrated terminal building is operational. They also discussed a new 4.5 km road connectivity proposal from Codissia junction to the upcoming terminal, which will significantly reduce travel time compared to the present plans via Sitra (9.5 km) and via Codissia (11 km).

R. Nandini, immediate past Chairperson of CII-Southern Region, and Vijay Mohan, founder of Pricol Ltd, co-chaired the meeting in the presence of representatives from key industry associations and civic bodies including CII, CODISSIA, ICCI, IIF, SIMA, SEIMA, TEA, Siruthuli, RAAC, CREDAI and Kongu Global Forum.