Coimbatore airport expansion master plan gets NITI Aayog nod; awaits approval from Cabinet Committee on Expenditure

The existing terminal of 18,000 sq. m. is handling close to 3.5 million passengers per annum. | Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY The ₹2,200-crore master plan for the expansion of the Coimbatore International Airport has been approved by the NITI Aayog and is awaiting green light from the Cabinet Committee on Expenditure, said Airport Director Mohammad Arif here on Wednesday (September 16).He said the land required to begin the expansion works as per the master plan has already been acquired. As per the master plan, 627 acre is required for the expansion, in addition to the existing area of 420 acre. The total area of the airport after the expansion would be over 1,047 acres.Out of the 627 required, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been handed over 621 acres. The remaining six acre, which has also been acquired by the district administration, is expected to be handed over soon.He said that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) issued the Terms of Reference to the AAI with regard to the project in the last week of July. The AAI is in the process of submitting the Environment Impact Assessment report for clearance from SEIAA, he said.According to him, the expansion project has almost achieved 75%-80% level of compliance as far as technical clearances are concerned. Once begun, the expansion could be completed in about three years.Mr. Arif said the existing terminal of 18,000 sq. m. was handling close to 3.5 million passengers per annum as against its design capacity of 3.63 million passengers per annum.The ongoing interim expansion works, which was to be over by August, will be completed by December, 2026, adding an additional 1,000 sq. m. This additional area will ease out congestion when the passenger traffic is expected to surpass the design capacity in 2-3 years and until the completion of the new terminal of about 75,000 sq.m. with a capacity to handle 12 million passengers per annum.The current peak hour capacity of the airport is 1,770 passengers, and the new terminal, after the expansion, will have a peak hour capacity of 4,200 passengers.He said Akasa Air, which operated a few non-scheduled flights recently from the airport, appeared to be keen on starting operations from Coimbatore.Yatri Sewa AbhiyanMr. Arif said the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s nation-wide campaign Yatri Sewa Abhiyan would be observed at the airport from September 17 to October 10, 2026. The AAI will conduct various passenger-centric activities each day and audit various facilities at the airport.Plans at a glanceCurrent spread of the airport: 420 acreLand needed for the expansion: 627 acreTotal area after expansion (including the interim one): More than 1,047 acresPassenger handlingCurrent peak hour capacity: 1,770 passengersPeak hour capacity after expansion: 4,200 passengers Published - September 16, 2026 06:32 pm IST