180/365 – Chennai International Airport

Airport type: Public
Owner: Government of India
Operator: Airports Authority of India
Serves: Chennai Metropolitan Area
Location: Tirusoolam, Chennai (Madras)

Chennai International Airport, also known as Anna International Airport (IATA: MAA, ICAO: VOMM), is located at Tirusulam, 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Chennai, India.

For the financial year 2010-11, it was the third busiest airport in India in terms of both international and overall passenger traffic, which is expected to double after March 2012 when its ongoing expansion will be completed and aircraft movements increase from 27 to 50 flights per hour. Chennai International Airport is one of the airports in Asia with lowest airport costs.

The airport is located along Meenambakkam and Tirusulam with passenger entry at Tirusulam and cargo entry at Meenambakkam. The International terminal is named after Former Late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C.N. Annadurai.

History

Madras (Chennai) had one of the first airports in India and was the final destination of Air India’s first flight from Bombay (Mumbai) via Belgaum in 1954.

The airport was built on land donated by the former governor of Madras Presidency, L. Sriramulu Naidu. Although the first aircraft “Pushmoth” landed in Chennai Airport in 1932, the usage was confined to military operations until during the 2nd World War.

In 1952, the Civil Aviation Department took over which was later taken over by the IAAI in 1972. The Air Cargo Complex was commissioned in 1978. The first passenger terminal was built at the northeast side of the airfield, which lies in the suburb of Meenambakkam due to which it was referred to as Meenambakkam Airport.

A new terminal complex was subsequently built at Tirusulam, further south near Pallavaram to which, passenger operations were shifted. The new domestic terminal was commissioned in 1985 and the international terminal was commissioned in 1989.

The old terminal building is now used as a cargo terminal and is the base for the Indian courier company Blue Dart. The new international departure terminal was commissioned in 2003.

In 2001, Chennai Airport became the first international airport in the country to receive ISO 9001-2000 certification.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai_International_Airport/
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