Exporters seek improved facilities in Trichy airport

The international airport currently exports around 20 metric tons (MT) of commodities daily, and exporters believe that with upgraded infrastructure, they could double this volume within a month.  The EIFT welcomed the acquisition of 455 acres to extend the airport’s shorter runway after 14 years, but emphasized the need for AAI to address exporters’ concerns. One key demand is extending the operating hours of the plant quarantine station, which currently closes at 4:30 pm. This office certifies perishable goods such as vegetables and fruits for export. “Most international flights from Trichy depart at night. If the quarantine office were open until 10 pm, we wouldn’t need to rely on airports in Chennai or Bengaluru, and AAI could boost revenue through increased exports,” said G Sathish Kumar, an exporter from Trichy.

Trichy has over 160 exporters, primarily shipping vegetables, fruits, and flowers to destinations like Malaysia, the UAE, Oman, and Singapore. Exporters have raised concerns about perishable goods, such as tomatoes, okra, and spinach, losing freshness in the cargo section. They have called for the cargo area to be fully air-conditioned to preserve the
quality of their goods.

N Kanagasabapathy, coordinator of EIFT, also highlighted the need for a dedicated freight space on international flights, noting that extending the runway for wide-body aircraft and expanding cargo capacity would take time.

“Currently, we export 2-3 MT per flight, but this could easily be doubled with improved facilities,” he said. EIFT has submitted these demands to AAI, requesting a joint stakeholders’ meeting to address export issues and explore solutions.

Exports from Trichy airport
2022-23: 6,357 MT
2023-24: 6,593 MT

Products exported: Vegetables, Fruits, & Flowers
Countries: UAE, Malaysia, Singapore