Plea for international airport status to Madurai airport

Tamilnadu Foodgrains Merchant Association (TFMA) has urged the Centre to declare Madurai Airport as international airport, saying such a step would
boost industrialisation and development in southern districts along Madurai-Aruppukottai-Tuticorin corridor.

In a memorandum submitted to Civil Aviation Minister Vyalar Ravi, the Madurai chapter of TFMA also said Air India flights to Kulalumpur, Singapore and Colombo presently being operated from Tiruchirappalli should be extended to this temple town in the first stage.

"If Madurai airport were to obtain international status it would boost industrialisation and development in Southern districts along Madurai Aruppukottai-Tuticorin Corridor.

Hence,the government should take immediate steps to implement our demands," an association release said today.

The memorandum requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to urge the state government to acquire land and handover the same to the Airports Authority of India for expansion works at the airport here.

They also sought facilities including transit lounge, rest houses with restaurant for overnight stay at airport complex, permanent hangers for maintenance of aircraft and aero bridges.