P Ravichandran, deputy chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry Southern Region, said Chennai will need a second airport within five to 10 years to support the city’s economic growth and its emergence as a global manufacturing hub. He said the existing Chennai airport remains capable of serving current requirements and that efficiency improvements could extend capacity. He added that the choice of location is best left to the government and that any new facility should function as an economic engine.

Ravichandran emphasised that requirements extend beyond passenger traffic as Tamil Nadu strengthens its role in electronics manufacturing, noting that around 50 per cent of Apple iPhones are made in the state. He said a significant share of electronic goods and components is transported by air, which makes air cargo infrastructure a key consideration in planning future airport capacity. He urged planners to assess whether passenger and cargo operations should be separated or whether dedicated terminals can facilitate faster movement from industrial parks to cargo facilities.

He recommended that planning adopt a 25-year view and consider the broader airport network around Chennai, including Puducherry and Nellore airports, which are about 140 to 150 km away. He said the government needs a strategic approach to determine requirements and timelines for any additional airport. He stressed that cargo infrastructure should receive equal or greater emphasis than passenger facilities.

Ravichandran asked stakeholders to allow the Tamil Nadu government time to evaluate alternatives in the wake of opposition to the proposed Parandur airport project and cautioned against premature criticism of the chief minister. He stated that CII does not seek to propose a specific location and that its focus is on ensuring that the facility enables manufacturers to ship goods quickly and business travellers to access and operate from the airport with ease. He expressed confidence that the government and its bureaucracy will identify an appropriate solution.