Minister of Civil Aviation to launch interim expansion, passenger amenities at Coimbatore airport

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu will launch the interim expansion works at Coimbatore International Airport and various amenities for passengers on Friday (February 20, 2026).

The interim expansion involving reconfiguration and construction of additional security hold area (SHA) in the existing terminal building is aimed at facilitating increased passenger footfall.

Airport Director Mohammad Arif said on Thursday that the airport handled 21,833 aircraft movements and 3.25 million passengers in 2024-25 fiscal year. The peak hour passenger footfall was exceeding the design capacity of the existing terminal, which is expected to reach stagnation by 2026-27, when the passenger traffic is projected to rise to 11.6 million per annum.

Mr. Arif said the existing domestic SHA will be further expanded by 920 sqm. This will enable the airport to accommodate 375 passengers in addition to the present capacity of 675 passengers. The interim expansion will be implemented at a cost of ₹13 crore, without causing inconvenience to the regular functioning of the airport.

Mr. Naidu, accompanied by Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, and L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, will inaugurate passenger amenities such as Udan Yatri Cafe, a stall under the AVSAR scheme (Airport as Venue for Skilled Artisans of the Region), kids zone and a ‘flybrary’ (library for passengers) at the airport.

Udan Yatri Cafe will sell refreshments at nominal rates, with tea to be sold for ₹10, coffee for ₹15, medhu vadai for ₹20, local sweets like athirasam for ₹20, and drinking water for ₹20, said the Airport Director.

The AVSAR stall is an initiative by the Airport Authority of India to provide a platform to self-help groups for promotion and sale of locally made products. The store at Coimbatore airport will sell Kovai Kora cotton, a GI-tagged product from the region.