Tuticorin Airport in Tamil Nadu is undergoing a major upgrade, with an expected completion date of December 2024. The Rs 3.81 billion project, being executed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), involves the extension of the runway to accommodate A-321 aircraft, construction of a new apron, a new terminal building, an engineering block with a control tower and a new fire station.

The new terminal building, covering 17,500 square meters, will significantly increase the airport’s capacity, allowing it to serve 1,440 passengers during peak hours and handle up to 2 million passengers annually. It will have modern facilities, including three aerobridges, and will be designed as a four-star GRIHA energy-efficient building with sustainability features.

As part of the upgrade, the runway will be extended from its current length of 1,350 metres to 3,115 metres. This extension will enable the airport to accommodate A-321-type aircraft, significantly expanding its operational capabilities. The project also includes the construction of a new air traffic control tower and technical block, a fire station, an extended apron to park five Airbus-321-type aircraft, an isolation bay, a link taxiway and a partially parallel taxiway.

Currently, Tuticorin Airport is connected to Chennai and Bengaluru with six daily flights and can cater to 156 passengers during peak hours, which can accommodate around 300,000 passengers annually. The upgrade will not only boost passenger services but also trade and tourism in Tuticorin and adjoining districts such as Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Nagercoil and Virudhunagar.