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The proximity of these ports to each New Integrated Terminal Building,
other allows for specialised handling handles international traffic.
of different cargo types while providing Additionally, AAI is planning to build
redundancy in the supply chain, a a fifth terminal (T5) dedicated solely to
critical factor for industries requiring cargo operations.
reliable logistics solutions. The airport's strategic location
“For Global Logistics Solutions it is allows it to serve as a transshipment
a very important port as we specialise point for cargo moving between East
in LCL groupage both for import Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
and export and Chennai port acts as This positioning has attracted several
gateway for all the Southern states of international cargo operators to
India for the LCL imports cargo,” says establish regular services to Chennai,
Naveen Prakash, Founder of Global further strengthening its role in global
Logistics Solutions. supply chains.
Chennai port volumes The airport is served by several cargo
Air connectivity: Chennai have grown very steadily carriers, including Qatar Airways Cargo,
International Airport Cathay Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, Turkish
Chennai International Airport serves as over these decades Cargo, SF Airlines, YTO Cargo Airlines,
the primary air gateway for southern especially with adjacent Sichuan Airlines, K-Mile Air, Blue
India, handling both passenger and ports of Ennore and Dart Aviation, Emirates SkyCargo, and
cargo operations. The airport is owned Kattupalli. Though the Ethiopian Cargo.
and operated by the Airports Authority ports are able to absorb “Lufthansa Cargo serves Chennai
of India (AAI). current volumes, the with two weekly freighter frequencies,
For Chennai, the airport handled one on our Hyderabad and Mumbai
22,240.1 metric tonnes of international limited draft doesn’t rotation each, and with five additional
freight in January 2025, reflecting a allow bigger vessels to frequencies per week as belly capacities
3.1% increase from 21,577.4 metric call the port. on passenger aircraft. We see mainly
tonnes in January 2024. From the April the demand for engineering equipment
2024 to January 2025 period, Chennai Naveen Prakash and general cargo on this route,” says
managed 241,752.0 metric tonnes of Global Logistics Solutions Shankar Iyer, Director Sales & Handling
freight, marking a 15.3% rise from South Asia, Lufthansa Cargo.
209,597.1 metric tonnes handled during capabilities. Chennai Airport's Phase 2
the April 2023 to January 2024 period, expansion, which includes upgrades to Automotive manufacturing:
according to data from AAI. cargo handling facilities, is expected to Chennai's Detroit connection
The airport's cargo operations are be completed by early 2026. Chennai's nickname as the “Detroit
facilitated through dedicated terminals Chennai Airport has three of India” is well-earned, as the region
for domestic and international passenger terminals. Terminal 1 and accounts for over 35% of India’s total
cargo, with specialised facilities for Terminal 4 handle domestic traffic, automobile production and a significant
perishables, pharmaceuticals, and while Terminal 2, also known as the share of exports.
other high-value goods. The city and its surrounding areas
According to the AAI, the cargo host manufacturing facilities for global
terminal at Chennai Airport handles automotive giants including Hyundai,
import, export, transshipment cargo, Renault-Nissan, Daimler, BMW, and
and unaccompanied luggage. It is domestic players like Mahindra &
spread over an area of 19.5 acres. Mahindra and TVS Motor Company.
Recent modernisation efforts have This concentration of automotive
significantly improved the airport's manufacturing has created a

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