A feasibility study commissioned by India’s Airports Authority (AAI) has proposed that the 14,450 sqm old terminal at Trichy International Airport be transformed into a hotel and shopping complex. The plan comes a year after the new ₹1,112 cr terminal became operational on 11 June 2024. AAI has not finalised its decision. The redevelopment study assessed multiple options, identifying the hotel-plus-mall concept as the most commercially viable.
However, exporters and aviation stakeholders caution against sacrificing future growth capacity for retail development. The old terminal was decommissioned exactly a year ago. It hosted both domestic and international flights since its opening in June 2009, but was vacated following supplant by the new, larger passenger terminal. Now dormant, its strategic location near runways and aerobridges makes it attractive both commercially and operationally. AAI has retained a specialist consultant to assess potential monetisation avenues. Their report highlights conversion into a hotel and shopping complex as the leading option, noting the site’s built-in amenities and proximity to the airside area. However, reconfiguring access points will be essential to isolate retail zones from airport operational areas.
Opposition has emerged. The Export-Import Federation of Trichy proposes using the ground floor for perishables and export logistics, utilising its air-conditioning infrastructure; the first floor could serve airline office functions. They warn a mall could hinder future flight upgrades . Airport advisory committee leadership also advocates retaining the old terminal for aviation use. They believe domestic flights could be reinstated from the old structure as passenger volumes grow. Aerobridges and equipment, ideal for reuse, need not be scrapped but shifted elsewhere, they argue . As Trichy airport marks its place in Tamil Nadu’s aviation landscape—handling nearly two million passengers in FY2024–25 and ranking 31st nationally—that future-proofing argument holds sway.
Economic observers argue that retail and hospitality conversion is sensible: it offers non-aeronautical revenue, creates jobs, and supports the airport’s green credentials if built sustainably. Retail hubs often stabilise airport incomes, vital for city airports competing with metros and subsidised carriers. Urban planners, however, urge balanced reuse. Any commercial redevelopment must incorporate eco-friendly design—solar panels, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient HVAC—and integrate passenger shuttles or green transport links, aligning with our editorial agenda of sustainable, equitable urban development. Governance experts suggest stakeholder meetings—exporters, airport staff, local government, civic bodies—should shape a hybrid solution. Such an approach aligns with the smarter airports vision: combining commerce, operations, and social utility while preserving airside flexibility.
Infrastructure analysts note that AAI’s development fund lists the old terminal in its commercial assets portfolio. Revenues generated could fund runway upgrades, sustainable ground transport, and gender-neutral rest areas across the airport. Critics, meanwhile, question whether the plan fits Trichy’s midsized urban ecosystem. Will micromarket support a retail complex? And what happens if commercial viability falters? They propose modular design—phased lease expansions—so aviation use can resume if needed. In Delhi, Chennai, and Ahmedabad, similar terminal repurposing has proven effective, but often with aviation needs as fallback. AAI must learn from these to avoid closing off runway-adjacent spaces prematurely.
The next step is a stakeholder meeting chaired by airport advisory officials, reportedly set for June’s end. Attendees will include exporters, airlines, aeronautical engineers, city planning experts, and civic representatives. The aim: find common ground between economic benefit and aviation readiness. From a sustainable development lens, conversion offers benefits: it reuses grey infrastructure, reduces new land use, and can embed equitable job creation with local hiring and female-inclusive roles in hospitality and retail. If eco-certified and community-linked, this reuse could become a template for other decommissioned terminals across India. However, critics highlight risk of over-commercialisation. “Airports are gateways, not malls,” one consultant remarked. “If retail overrides runway ops, expansion becomes unviable.” Their recommendation: any conversion must be reversible, with plug-and-play design.
Looking ahead, a hybrid model may gain traction—retain cargo handling capabilities, host airline offices upstairs, and allocate space for perishable logistics, while introducing intermittent pop-up retail or event spaces, without compromising aviation capacity. AAI officials have said decisions will respect both stakeholder input and strategic airport master planning. If approved, conversion would begin in early 2026, post heritage clearance and structural audits. Adaptive reuse could even include facility for local artisans and women-led kiosks, enhancing regional cultural visibility.
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