Chennai airport may outsource cargo terminal

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is ready to house a new cargo terminal on an outsourcing model at the Chennai airport by revising its master plan.

However, this will materialise only if a report of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) on the modernisation of the airport is accepted by the authority, said GK Chaukiyal, member (operations), AAI.

“In our Phase-II development, we are open to having a new cargo terminal on an outsourcing model in the Chennai Airport,” he told reporters here.

Chaukiyal was addressing stakeholders of the air cargo industry during an interactive session organised by the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chennai Custom House Agent's Association, in association with Air Cargo Agents Association of India.

The decision on acceptance of the report would be taken in two weeks. The study looked into the actual potential of the Chennai airport, both in terms of passenger and cargo freight. Under the model, the land would be provided by the authority, in which the private company has to develop and maintain the terminal.