Thoothukudi Airport Upgrade Set to Boost Industry, Cargo and Regional Connectivity

The upcoming inauguration of the renovated terminal of Thoothukudi airport is on July 26, and with it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebration. This is a very loud welcome for all industrial leaders as this would be a major leap for cargo movement, business travel, and industrial connectivity for this region.

This airport, with its added infrastructure of a terminal building, runway extension, and night landing facilities, is strategically placed between the two districts of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli and would thus form an important infrastructure link to the growing industrial ecosystem in southern Tamil Nadu.

“Thoothukudi is fast becoming one of the most promising investment zones in the region,” were the words of D. R. Kodeeswaran, President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Thoothukudi, who went on to add that Outer Harbour at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, ISRO’s launch pad at Kulasekarapattinam, furniture park in SIPCOT premises, and the manufacturing unit of VinFast would be the major drivers towards industrial growth with various significant upcoming projects.

In addition, Kodeeswaran stressed the need to lift the air connectivity from Thoothukudi to major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Kochi. Currently, only IndiGo and SpiceJet have flight services from the airport. A passenger traffic increase, at Thoothukudi airport, of 15.2% in 2024–25 over earlier years, is a sign of increasing demand.

R. Edwin Samuel, the erstwhile Chairperson of CII, Thoothukudi, praised the authorities should considering the granting of international status to the airport, which would enable flights to destinations such as Male, Colombo, and Dubai. “The timing is perfect. Thoothukudi is also emerging as a spiritual tourism hub. All flights are grounded except for emergencies.

This is an enthusiastic welcome for the airport expansion,” he said further.

According to local stakeholders, as SIPCOT Gangaikondan and other industrial clusters attract major companies, the enhanced air connectivity will accelerate regional development along with ease cargo movement and open new doors for business and tourism.