Tamil Nadu reviews satellite terminal plan to extend Chennai airport capacity to 2045

The Indian Airports Authority has briefed the Tamil Nadu government that Chennai International Airport will reach its full passenger capacity by 2035. To accommodate demand through 2045, the authority has proposed constructing a satellite (auxiliary) terminal and a connecting elevated access road linking it to National Highway 32. The proposal was examined in a high‑level meeting with state officials on Saturday.

The existing airport currently operates three terminals – domestic Terminals 1 and 4, and International Terminal 2, with Terminal 3 under construction and delayed until December 2026. The satellite terminal would add significant handling capacity, pending state approval. Discussions also touched on land requirements for the new facilities and related infrastructure at other regional airports such as Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Coimbatore. The separate plan for a second airport at Parandur is not part of this review.

If approved, the satellite terminal and access road would enable Chennai Airport to meet projected traffic growth for the next two decades.