Tiruchi International Airport has handled more than 20 t of inbound and outbound domestic cargo since the facility was launched in late August. Outbound shipments have exceeded inbound volumes, with private carriers transporting goods to Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

The domestic cargo service began after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), an independent department under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, granted clearance. The facility was introduced to give local businesses a faster route for sending goods to major domestic hubs, reducing their reliance on cargo routed through other airports.

The airport handled 14.5 t of outbound domestic cargo and 9.3 t of inbound cargo in September, according to airport sources. Auto parts and fabric rolls accounted for much of the outbound cargo, while inbound consignments mainly comprised postal mail.

Private carriers have transported outbound commodities to Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Daily flights operate from Tiruchi to Chennai and Bengaluru, while services to Mumbai and Delhi are also available. Cargo is subjected to security screening by BCAS-certified screeners at the airport before being loaded on flights.

Airport sources described the cargo volume recorded since the service began as an encouraging development, while noting that the trend would need to be assessed over successive months. Tiruchi is the second busiest airport in Tamil Nadu in terms of passenger traffic and has more overseas flight operations than domestic services.

Before the domestic cargo facility was introduced, the airport handled export cargo sent to selected destinations in South-East and West Asia. Perishable commodities account for the largest share of export cargo from Tiruchi. The airport handled more than 3,000 t of export cargo during the first six months of the current financial year, from April to September.