Trichy airport weighs old terminal for dedicated cargo operations

Trichy: With the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) recently granting security approval for domestic cargo operations at Trichy airport, the need for a dedicated cargo terminal has gained prominence.Airport management plans to initially commence domestic cargo operations from the new integrated passenger terminal. However, the old integrated terminal building is also being considered for handling both export and domestic cargo operations.Despite a fall in international passenger traffic between 2025 and 2026 due to the West Asia military crisis, international cargo movement at Trichy airport has marginally increased. Between February and June 2025, the airport handled 2,751 MT of international freight. During the corresponding period in 2026, it handled 2,846.6 MT of export cargo, marginally outperforming last year despite limited flights and the volatile situation in the Gulf.“The old integrated airport terminal has several crucial infrastructures. For now, the terminal can be used for export and domestic cargo operations. In future, the same can be used as a domestic terminal when the need arises and the maximum passenger handling capacity is reached at the new integrated terminal,” said H Ubaidullah, an independent aviation analyst.Airport sources said an X-ray machine is available at the new integrated passenger terminal and efforts are under way to operate domestic cargo from the facility.However, stakeholders said the old terminal building should be used only for aeronautical purposes.“A proposal will soon be sent to operationalise the old integrated terminal. Operating the old facility as a dedicated cargo terminal is being considered,” an official source said.