Chennai airport struggles with traffic drop amid demand for modernisation and routes

Once considered a major gateway in South India, Chennai airport has now slipped to sixth place in passenger traffic among Indian airports, trailing behind Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

According to official data from March, the airport recorded only a 7.2% increase in passenger traffic, compared to a 17.3% jump at Hyderabad and 12.7% at Bengaluru. While domestic traffic saw a moderate 10.4% rise, international traffic fell by 1.7%, underlining serious challenges in infrastructure, connectivity, and user experience at the airport. Despite a ₹2,467 crore investment in modernisation by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Chennai’s airport continues to lose its competitive edge. A new international terminal is under construction, but concerns around efficiency, lack of direct international flights, and dated passenger amenities are deterring both airlines and travellers. While Bengaluru and Hyderabad have rapidly expanded global connectivity  offering direct flights to destinations such as Bali, Sydney, and San Francisco — Chennai remains reliant on secondary hubs for global access, compelling many passengers to fly out of competing cities instead.

A key differentiator lies in how these rival airports have created seamless travel ecosystems. Privately operated airports, particularly in Bengaluru and Mumbai, offer world-class terminals, retail experiences, and food courts that rival shopping malls. Travellers from Chennai have increasingly highlighted the lack of similar amenities in their city’s airport, pointing to minimal dining and shopping options, inefficient transport systems within the premises, and cumbersome cab pickups that require long walks or buggy rides to multi-level car parks. This has led to growing online frustration among flyers, many of whom are calling for privatisation of the facility to drive accountability and faster improvements. The issue is more than cosmetic. In today’s competitive aviation landscape, passenger comfort, transit speed, and flight availability directly influence airline operations and passenger loyalty. A lack of direct international connections has become a persistent concern, with flyers regularly booking connecting flights through other metro airports or international hubs like Doha and Dubai. Although officials say the decision to launch new international routes rests with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, delays in making Chennai a preferred destination are costing the city valuable footfall and economic opportunities.

Basic passenger services also remain a pain point. International travellers have flagged the absence of accessible WiFi at the international departure gates, especially those without Indian SIM cards. In a digital-first travel world, such gaps can leave a lasting negative impression. AAI officials maintain that improvements are under way, including resolving connectivity issues and creating a second cab pick-up zone, but the pace of these upgrades has raised concerns among frequent flyers and the travel trade community. While authorities argue that land constraints and centralised policy decisions limit Chennai’s growth, there is rising consensus among flyers and travel stakeholders that the airport needs not just structural revamp but systemic change. Without targeted investments in direct flight connectivity, digital infrastructure, and customer experience  and a potential shift towards private operations Chennai risks becoming an afterthought in India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.

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Chennai airport struggles with traffic drop amid demand for modernisation and routes