PrepMaticTamil Nadu GK · Economy & infrastructure
Airports of Tamil Nadu: international, domestic and planned
On this page
Tamil Nadu has four international airports as of 2026: Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli. Chennai is the largest and the main gateway to South India. Thoothukudi and Salem handle domestic flights, and some smaller airfields serve defence or occasional civil use. Airport status can change when new terminals open or new airports are approved, so confirm the current list on the Airports Authority of India (AAI) website.
Civil airports
| Airport | Code | City or district | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai (Anna International and Kamaraj Domestic terminals) | MAA | Chennai (Meenambakkam) | International; busiest airport in the state |
| Coimbatore | CJB | Coimbatore | International |
| Madurai | IXM | Madurai | International |
| Tiruchirappalli | TRZ | Tiruchirappalli | International; new integrated terminal opened in January 2024 |
| Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) | TCR | Thoothukudi | Domestic |
| Salem | SXV | Salem | Domestic, regional connectivity flights |
The airport codes above are the IATA codes used on tickets. Some districts, such as Vellore and Neyveli, have smaller airstrips that run flights occasionally under regional connectivity schemes. Their schedules change often, so they are left out of the table.
Defence airfields
Defence airfields are not open to ordinary passengers. They appear in general-knowledge questions on defence in the state.
| Station | Location | Service |
|---|---|---|
| INS Rajali | Arakkonam | Navy; a major naval air station |
| INS Parundu | Uchipuli, Ramanathapuram | Navy |
| Air Force Station Sulur | Coimbatore | Air Force |
| Air Force Station Thanjavur | Thanjavur | Air Force; fighter jets |
| Air Force Station Tambaram | Chennai | Air Force training base |
New airports under discussion
- Parandur (Kancheepuram district). A second airport for Chennai. The state government selected the site and has been pursuing approvals; check the AAI and the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the current status.
- Hosur (Krishnagiri district). A proposed airport for the Hosur industrial belt near the Karnataka border.
Both are proposals unless the Ministry of Civil Aviation notes otherwise. Do not treat a proposed airport as an operational one in an exam answer.
Short notes on most-asked items
- Count. Four international airports, as of 2026.
- Chennai terminals. Anna International Terminal and Kamaraj Domestic Terminal.
- Southern tip. Thoothukudi airport serves the port city and the south; it has only domestic flights.
- Regional connectivity. The UDAN scheme, launched in 2016, funds low-fare regional flights, which is how small airports such as Salem got scheduled flights.
- Industrial link. Coimbatore and Hosur serve manufacturing belts. See industrial clusters of Tamil Nadu.
- Operator. AAI runs most of the civil airports in the state.
Why this appears in Unit V
Unit V pairs the Indian economy with development administration in Tamil Nadu, and the Commission's January 2022 Group 4 scheme listed "Geography of Tamil Nadu and its impact on Economic growth" under it, which is where ports, minerals and industrial belts are examined. Airport questions are usually factual: how many international airports, which city has a certain airport, or where the second airport of Chennai is proposed. The 2026 notification groups the topics differently, so check Annexure III. The development administration in Tamil Nadu guide places this in context, and seaports of Tamil Nadu covers the other half of the state's transport network.
How to revise
Put the four international airports on a map first (north, west, centre, south), then the two domestic airports, then the defence stations. Revise annually, since new terminals or airport approvals are exactly the kind of recent facts that questions favour. Add them to your running notes using the TNPSC current affairs guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many international airports are there in Tamil Nadu?
Four as of 2026: Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli.
Which is the busiest airport in Tamil Nadu?
Chennai International Airport at Meenambakkam.
Where is the second airport for Chennai proposed?
At Parandur in Kancheepuram district. It was a proposal at the time of writing; check the AAI for the latest.
Which airport in Tamil Nadu serves Thoothukudi?
Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) Airport, which operates domestic flights.
Official sources
Airport status, terminals and flights change often, so confirm the current list with the AAI.
Find your weak TNPSC units before the exam does
Take a free TNPSC assessment on PrepMatic. It shows where you stand across General Tamil, General Studies and Aptitude, then builds a day-by-day study plan and mock tests focused on your weak subjects.
Start free assessment →Free forever plan · No credit card · 2-minute setupRelated
- Seaports of Tamil NaduSeaports of Tamil Nadu: the three major ports (Chennai, Kamarajar, V.O. Chidambaranar), minor ports, ancient Tamil ports and coastal districts, with key facts.
- Industrial clusters of Tamil NaduIndustrial clusters of Tamil Nadu by town: Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Sivakasi, Hosur, Sriperumbudur, Karur, Salem, Ambur and more, with SIPCOT, SIDCO and TIDCO.
- Districts of Tamil NaduAll 38 districts of Tamil Nadu with their headquarters and one key fact each, plus the districts created in 2019 and 2020 that TNPSC questions often target.
- TN development administrationDevelopment administration in Tamil Nadu for TNPSC: syllabus lines, social justice, education and health systems, welfare schemes by purpose, and staying current.
More in Economy & infrastructure
- GI tags of Tamil NaduGI-tagged products of Tamil Nadu with district and type, from Kancheepuram silk to Palani Panchamirtham; the count is current to late 2025.
- Major crops of Tamil NaduMajor crops of Tamil Nadu with the districts that grow them: paddy seasons, millets, sugarcane, cotton, plantation crops and the seven agro-climatic zones.
- Power plants of Tamil NaduPower plants in Tamil Nadu by type and district: Neyveli, Mettur, Vallur, Kudankulam, Kalpakkam, Kundah, Kadamparai, Muppandal wind farm and Kamuthi solar park.