Chennai Airport’s new terminal to be ready in two years with new services. The new terminal at Chennai airport will serve both domestic and international travellers when it is finished in two years. According to a TOI report, the terminal is being built next to phase 1 of the integrated terminal (T2), which now handles international arrivals and departures, and is situated where the former international arrival facility stood. According to an official of the Airports Authority of India, the demolition work has been completed, and this month is set aside for the start of building once the contractor receives the site.
The new terminal, which will take up some 60,000 square metres, will be connected with the current T2 terminal to form a sizable integrated structure that can accommodate both domestic and international aircraft depending on demand. When the integrated terminal is finished, two domestic terminals will be on either side of it.
Phase 2 development of T2 includes the construction of the new terminal. This phase will raise the integrated terminal’s overall area to 197,000 square metres and increase its annual passenger handling capacity from the present 25 million to 35 million. Depending on the needs, the terminal’s layout will be adaptable to suit both domestic and foreign travellers. When there is a surge in domestic passenger traffic, the new terminal may be used to route them, making everything run well for everyone.
Every day, the city airport welcomes about 50,000 domestic travellers, and at busy times like weekends and holidays, there is frequently a spike in demand for domestic travel. Airlines, however, find it difficult to reserve slots for more frequencies. Airlines will be able to add more flights to their timetables because of the increased terminal space.
More aerobridges for boarding and disembarking will be included in the integrated terminal when it is finished, enabling airlines to plan more international flights. To reduce the possibility of improperly handled luggage, it will also have several amenities like self-baggage drop, e-gates, a passenger flow monitoring system, 3D sensors for boarding, a specialised baggage scanning system, and an advanced baggage handling system.
In other news, there will be major upgrades to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, including the extension of the international terminal and the demolition of the domestic terminal. To accommodate the increasing demand for flights and passenger traffic, the airport’s master plan seeks to enhance infrastructure and connections. Should the runway end safety area not be expanded by September 2024, the airport’s licence may be revoked.
In addition, three passenger terminals would be positioned in between two runways at the recently constructed greenfield airport in Chennai’s Parandur. The airport will have a metro rail station and be conveniently located next to the Chennai-Bengaluru motorway via a connecting road. For approval, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has received the design from the state government.