The Union Civil Aviation Minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, has assured Parliament that Madurai Airport will be upgraded to enhance its domestic and international services, responding to long-standing calls from local leaders and passengers for better air connectivity and facilities.During the Lok Sabha’s Question Hour, Virudhunagar MP Manickam Thakur raised concerns about the development of Madurai Airport, highlighting the need for more flights, infrastructure improvements and status enhancements. In response, Minister Naidu described Madurai as one of Tamil Nadu’s most important airports and confirmed that steps are being taken to improve its operations.
Naidu said that flight operations from Madurai, including international services, have already been increased, and work is underway to consider round-the-clock operations and further expansion of services. He added that demands to increase flights to key cities such as Chennai and Bengaluru would be taken up with airlines and implemented based on their operational capacity.
The minister also noted that the request to grant international airport status to Madurai is under serious consideration, a move that could significantly boost tourism, trade and business connectivity for southern Tamil Nadu.
Local representatives have long urged the Centre to upgrade the airport’s status and add more international routes, seeing the facility as crucial for regional development and global access. In recent years, discussions have also involved improving passenger amenities and infrastructure to match rising demand.
With these commitments, Madurai Airport’s future development appears to be progressing, reflecting broader efforts by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to enhance regional air connectivity across the country.