Chennai airport handled 17.3 lakh passengers in April and now ranks sixth nationally, behind Kolkata airport.
Chennai airport recorded 17.3 lakh passengers in April while Kolkata handled 17.6 lakh. Bengaluru airport reached 31.7 lakh passengers and now stands third in the country.
Over the last decade Chennai traffic grew 24 percent to 17,39,902 in 2026 from 14,02,247 in 2016. Bengaluru and Hyderabad recorded growth of 105 percent and 100 percent respectively.
Airports Authority of India officials said passenger numbers will rise once the new integrated terminal and airside works are finished. They noted some airlines cancelled flights recently because of higher jet fuel prices.
Frequent flyers and industry representatives criticised maintenance standards and limited connectivity. They called for swift completion of the proposed Parandur airport to improve facilities and economic links. The T3 terminal is now scheduled for completion by the end of the year.