Centre Plans Major Upgrade for Madurai Airport

The Union Government has taken several initiatives to upgrade Madurai Airport and strengthen its domestic and international air connectivity, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjirappu Ram Mohan Naidu informed the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, assuring that steps would be taken to address the reduction in flight services and improve connectivity with major cities.

Issues Raised in Parliament:
Virudhunagar parliamentary constituency, Madurai Airport, Chennai–Madurai and Bengaluru–Madurai routes, passengers, business community, migrant workers and frequent flyers.

Members highlighted the decline in the number of flights operating from Madurai Airport, noting that services to Chennai and Bengaluru had been significantly reduced compared to previous years, causing inconvenience to passengers and affecting economic and social mobility in the region.

The need to increase the frequency of flights, restore lost connections, ensure better access to major metropolitan cities and enhance operational viability through airline participation was emphasized during the discussion.

Responding to the concerns, the Union Civil Aviation Minister stated that Madurai Airport is considered one of the most important airports in Tamil Nadu and that the Government of India has undertaken multiple efforts to develop it in line with this vision.

The minister informed the House that the long-pending demand for 24-hour airport operations, aimed at improving both domestic and international connectivity, was positively considered and approved, enabling greater operational flexibility and future expansion.

He further stated that granting international airport status to Madurai is under active consideration and that the government is closely examining the feasibility and requirements for such an upgrade.

Regarding the reduced flight services on key routes such as Madurai–Chennai and Madurai–Bengaluru, the minister said the matter would be taken up with capable airline operators, as the availability of services depends on commercial viability and airline readiness to operate on those sectors.

Reiterating the Centre’s commitment, the minister emphasized that Madurai is viewed as an important hub not only at the domestic level but also in the international aviation network, and that the Ministry of Civil Aviation would continue to encourage and facilitate measures to enhance air transport connectivity from the city.