MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry had conducted an important meeting in Madurai on October 4th 2024 by inviting various key stakeholders from travel and tourism sector in the backdrop of Madurai airport which was declared as 24X7 operational airport by the Government of India and Union Civil Aviation Ministry from October 1st 2024.
In this pivotal meeting of 24X7 Madurai airport, representatives from domestic and international airlines along with travel and tourism sector had participated and gave their suggestions to Madurai MP Mr.Su.Venkatesan and Madurai airport Director Mr.P.Muthu Kumar while the Tamil Nadu Chamber president Dr.N.Jegatheesan had listed out some immediate passenger needs.
Thanking the Chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI) Mr.Suresh for making 24 X 7 operations possible at Madurai airport, the TN Chamber president had urged for making Madurai airport to international status because it will enable on-arrival visa facilities and boost tourism along with international travel from Madurai region.
“There is urgency to expedite Madurai airport’s runway expansion from 7,500 feet to 12,000 feet. The State Government had already acquired 585 acres of land for this purpose, there is still a critical issue with TN Road Infrastructure Development Corporation which is reluctant to handover the Madurai Inner Ring Road to the National Highways Authority. This road is important for the proposed runway expansion….and only then wide-body aircraft can come and increase passenger flow at Madurai airport,” the TN Chamber president Dr.N.Jegatheesan has said and also urged the airport officials and State government authorities to look into construction of an underpass along National Highway NH45B for Madurai airport expansion plans.
WHAT MADURAI AIRPORT WANTS?
Dr.N.Jegatheesan has urged the airport authorities for creating more amenities in Madurai airport such as restaurants, mobile SIM card hub, airport police station and many other essential services.
Responding to the stakeholders’ requests, the Madurai Airport Director Mr.P.Muthu Kumar spoke about some practical solutions such as setting up bookstores, car rental services, electrical vehicles charging points, mobile SIM card hubs etc and he encouraged private airline companies to use the new time slots for their flight operations from the 24X7 Madurai airport.
Among those who spoke at this interaction meeting include Mr.Jaisinh Vaerkar from CII Madurai Zone who spoke about connectivity to Sri Lanka and Maldives for medical tourism, Mr.Musthafa from Travel Club who wanted new flight routes from Madurai to high demand destinations such as Goa, Delhi, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Malaysia Kuala Lumpur for tourism potential, while Mr.Kamal from Federation of Tourism Operators (FOTO) had stressed for 4-lane highway connecting Madurai airport to other major cities in Tamil Nadu.
Mr.Senthil Kumar from STATT had thanked the Tamil Nadu Chamber in Madurai for its successful efforts to make Madurai as 24X7 operations airport while Air India Chief Manager (Sales) Mr.Priyadharsan Lakshmanan had highlighted about Air India’s plans to introduce narrow body flights from Madurai within the next three months and to improve international connectivity to the US and Europe destinations which will reduce flying time.
Mr.Deepan R, Associate Manager (Sales-Tamil Nadu), Air India Express, Mr.Srinivasan Jeyaseelan, senior manager (Sales), Indigo, Mr.Asela Ambepitiya, area manager, Sri Lankan Airlines and Mr.Sujith Menon, Head of airport operations, Air Asia, Mr.N.Kalidasan, Madurai Station Manager of Spice Jet, were aming those who had aired their suggestions for Madurai airport passenger improvement plans while Madurai MP Mr.Su.Venkatesan who heard all the suggestions and grievances had assured that he will take steos to fulfill them soon.
