News Brief
Chennai International Airport Set For Major Upgrade, New Terminal Opening Set For March 2026
Chennai International Airport, formerly known as Meenambakkam Airport.(Representational image).
The Phase 2 expansion of Chennai International Airport is progressing at a rapid pace, with efforts being made to prevent further delays.
According to the revised deadline, the second portion of the new integrated terminal is expected to be completed by early 2026 and operational for passengers by March of the same year, reported Daily Thanthi.
In 2023, then Civil Aviation Minister V K Singh had estimated July 2025 as the probable completion date of the upgraded airport.
But later, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) set a deadline of December 2025, before extending it to March 2026.
The AAI started the expansion process in 2018 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,467 crore to increase the capacity of the airport from the existing 2.3 crore passengers per year to 3.5 crore.
The project spans 2.36 lakh square metres and has been split into two phases.
The first phase involved the building of a new integrated terminal on a 1.36 lakh square metre area at a cost of Rs 1,260 crore.
However, global travellers have only been able to access part of the new terminal for nearly two years now.
In order to accommodate more travellers, the second phase of the expansion was undertaken, with the aim of expanding terminal area and enhancing passenger facilities.
The new terminal building will reportedly have eight entry gates, 60 check-in counters, 10 scanning screens, and eight aerobridges equipped with cutting-edge technology.
Also, the efficiency of baggage claiming is going to increase as the AAI has planned to improve the conveyor belt system to reduce the waiting time of passengers.
"The peak-hour footfall in the existing terminal is around 12,000. After the inauguration of the new terminal, the footfall could go up but with added facilities and spacious ambience, passenger movement will be smoother and waiting time will be less," an airport official was quoted as saying by DT.
Chennai International Airport currenlty functions with three terminals—1, 2, and 4. With the introduction of Terminal 3, it will increase its capacity to 3.5 crore passengers annually, with air services crossing 500 flights per day.
