Chennai airport operator change: TN CM Vijay writes to Modi, CPI pushes back
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay has formally asked PM Modi to replace AAI as Chennai airport's operator — a move that comes after the Parandur greenfield project was dropped and signals the state's push for private-sector involvement. The CPI has fired back, pointing to AAI's ₹492 crore profit at Chennai alone and calling the proposal unjustified privatisation of a performing public asset.
Key Takeaways
Joseph Vijay wrote to PM Narendra Modi in August 2026 proposing a change of operator at Chennai airport .
The Chief Minister cited deficiencies in passenger handling , aircraft movements , and cargo capacity as key concerns.
The proposal follows the state's decision to abandon the greenfield airport at Parandur, Kancheepuram district .
CPI strongly opposed the move, describing it as privatisation of a profitable public asset.
AAI recorded a net profit of ₹6,522 crore in 2025-26 ; Chennai airport alone generated ₹492.48 crore in 2024-25 .
No formal response from the Centre has been reported yet.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) be replaced as the operator of Chennai airport, arguing that the state needs a more efficient and globally competitive aviation hub to underpin its industrial ambitions. The letter was sent in August 2026, according to reports, and signals a significant shift in the state's aviation strategy following the scrapping of the planned greenfield airport at Parandur.
Why the State Wants a Change
Chief Minister Vijay reportedly identified passenger handling, aircraft movements, and cargo capacity as the three critical areas where Chennai airport falls short. The state government believes these deficiencies could undermine Tamil Nadu's ability to absorb rising aviation demand and remain competitive as an investment destination against other major Indian cities.
Officials have emphasised that a world-class international aviation hub is essential to serve the state's expanding manufacturing, trade, tourism, and logistics sectors. By proposing a change from the current AAI management, the state is understood to be open to bringing in a different operator — potentially one involving private-sector participation.
The Parandur Backdrop
The proposal comes directly in the wake of the Tamil Nadu government's decision to abandon the long-deliberated greenfield airport project at Parandur in Kancheepuram district. With that option off the table, the modernisation and capacity expansion of the existing Chennai airport has moved to the centre of the state's infrastructure planning. Officials argue that upgrading the current facility is now crucial to Tamil Nadu's future growth trajectory.
CPI Opposes the Move
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has firmly opposed the proposal, characterising it as a step towards privatising a vital public asset. The party urged the state government to withdraw the suggestion and instead focus on strengthening the airport's public-sector operations.
The CPI argued that shortcomings in airport administration should be addressed by improving passenger amenities, streamlining flight operations, expanding cargo-handling capacity, and upgrading road connectivity — not by transferring management to a private entity.
Citing the airport's financial health, the CPI noted that AAI recorded a net profit of ₹6,522 crore in 2025-26, with Chennai airport alone reportedly generating ₹492.48 crore in profit during 2024-25. The party contended that handing over a profitable public facility to private hands is neither justified nor in the public interest.
What Happens Next
No formal response from the Centre has been reported yet. The proposal is likely to draw scrutiny from both aviation policy circles and political stakeholders, given that airport privatisation has remained a contentious issue nationally since the handover of major airports at Delhi and Mumbai to private concessionaries. Whether the Centre acts on the Chief Minister's letter — and in what form — will determine the next phase of this debate.
Point of View
Leaving the state with no alternative capacity plan. That sequencing suggests the operator-change proposal is less a considered aviation policy and more a reactive pivot — one that could open Tamil Nadu to the same controversy that dogged Delhi and Mumbai airport privatisations. The CPI's counter, grounded in AAI's profitability data, is harder to dismiss than usual left-wing reflexes: a facility generating nearly ₹500 crore annually is not a candidate for private rescue. The real question is whether the state's case for better management can be made without conceding ownership — and whether the Centre, already committed to airport monetisation nationally, sees political advantage in accommodating Tamil Nadu's ask.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Tamil Nadu want to change Chennai airport's operator?
Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay has cited deficiencies in passenger handling, aircraft movements, and cargo capacity as reasons for proposing a change from AAI management. The state argues that a more competitive operator is needed to support Tamil Nadu's industrial growth and attract investment, particularly after the Parandur greenfield airport project was abandoned.
What is the Parandur airport project and why was it dropped?
The Parandur greenfield airport was a proposed new facility in Kancheepuram district intended to supplement Chennai's aviation capacity. The Tamil Nadu government decided to abandon the project, shifting focus to modernising and expanding the existing Chennai airport instead.
Why is the CPI opposing the Chennai airport operator change?
The Communist Party of India has called the proposal an attempt to privatise a profitable public asset, noting that AAI recorded a net profit of ₹6,522 crore in 2025-26 and that Chennai airport alone generated around ₹492.48 crore in 2024-25. The party argues that management shortcomings should be fixed by upgrading facilities within the public sector, not by transferring control to a private operator.
Has the Centre responded to Tamil Nadu's proposal?
No formal response from the Union government has been reported as of 19 September 2026. The proposal is expected to draw wider attention given the national debate around airport privatisation.
Which airports in India are already run by private operators?
Major airports including those at Delhi and Mumbai have been operated under private concession agreements for several years, making Chennai a potential candidate if the Centre and state agree to a similar arrangement — though no such decision has been announced.
