Chennai airport handled 4,22,515.9 tonnes of freight in 2025-26, 11.4% more than the 3,79,154.1 tonnes of 2024-25, according to the Airports Authority of India’s March 2026 freight annexure, which carries the full-year totals. Most of it is international: 3,29,865 tonnes went to or came from abroad, against 92,651 tonnes of domestic cargo.
That export weighting sets Chennai apart from its passenger story, where traffic has been falling in 2026. Here is what the cargo numbers show, who handles the goods at Meenambakkam and what exporters need to know about clearing shipments there.
The numbers, year by year
| Freight at Chennai (tonnes) | International | Domestic | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2,95,359.5 | 83,794.6 | 3,79,154.1 |
| 2025-26 | 3,29,865.0 | 92,650.8 | 4,22,515.9 |
| Change | +11.7% | +10.6% | +11.4% |
| April-August 2026 | 1,58,280.3 | 41,447.7 | 1,99,728.0 |
| Change on April-August 2025 | +13.5% | +0.5% | +10.6% |
The 2025-26 rows are from AAI’s March 2026 annexure and the 2026-27 rows from its August 2026 annexure, the latest published. In the first five months of the current year, nearly all of Chennai’s growth came from international shipments, while domestic freight was almost flat.
Nationally, AAI recorded 18.19 lakh tonnes of freight across Indian airports in April to August 2026, up 11.6%, according to its monthly summary. On total freight for that period, Chennai ranked fourth among the big metros, behind Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru and well ahead of Hyderabad and Kolkata.
Cargo is growing even as flights are cut. AAI’s aircraft movements annexure shows Chennai handled 59,391 flights in April to August 2026, 12.6% fewer than the 67,933 a year earlier. Much air freight travels in the holds of passenger aircraft, so the cargo gain with fewer flights suggests fuller holds, more freighter capacity, or both. AAI does not split freight by aircraft type, so the data cannot say which.
The month of March 2026 alone saw 38,903.2 tonnes, 2.3% above March 2025, which shows the growth slowing at the end of the financial year before picking up again from April.
Why so much of it is international
Chennai airport is the air gateway for the manufacturing belt around Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and the city’s industrial estates, as well as for exporters across Tamil Nadu. High-value, time-sensitive goods such as electronic components, auto parts, garments and leather products, pharmaceuticals and perishables like flowers, fruit, vegetables and chilled seafood tend to fly rather than sail. AAI’s annexures count tonnage only and do not break it down by commodity, so they cannot show which of these is growing fastest.
Who handles the cargo
Chennai Customs lists two custodians at the airport’s cargo complex on its custodian page: the Airports Authority of India for both import and export cargo, and Air India for export cargo only. Custodians run the warehouses where goods are received, weighed, stored and examined before loading or after landing.
AAI set up a cargo subsidiary, AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services (AAICLAS), in August 2016. Its page on the AAI site describes it as a cargo terminal operator and says AAI can handle express and general cargo with facilities for temperature-sensitive, perishable, pharmaceutical and dangerous goods. It does not list terminal-by-terminal facilities, so exporters should confirm cold-storage capacity and handling charges at Chennai directly with the custodian before booking a shipment.
Clearing an export at Chennai air cargo
The Air Cargo Commissionerate of Chennai Customs works round the clock, according to its contact page. The basic steps, from its export procedure:
- Get an Importer-Exporter Code from the DGFT and register your bank’s authorised dealer code with Customs.
- File the shipping bill electronically through the customs EDI system or a customs broker.
- Bring the goods to the custodian’s warehouse, where the quantity received is endorsed.
- Customs officers examine selected consignments. The EDI system picks which ones, and normally only a sample of packages is opened.
- Once the papers and goods match, the officer gives “Let Export” and the cargo is loaded under customs supervision.
- Duty drawback, if claimed, is processed electronically after export and credited to the bank account.
For perishables, the procedure says routine examination is not done. A perishable consignment is examined only on credible intelligence and with an Assistant or Deputy Commissioner’s permission, and if it is taken up, it should be cleared the same day. Seafood exporters need their MPEDA and Export Inspection Agency paperwork ready as well. A licensed customs broker is the usual route for first-time exporters.
Contact
The Air Cargo Commissionerate is at the New Custom House, GST Road, Meenambakkam, Chennai 600016. The contact page lists EPABX numbers 044 2256 9598 and 044 2256 9588 and an online enquiry form on aircustomschennai.gov.in.
Quick answers
How much cargo does Chennai airport handle?
4,22,515.9 tonnes in 2025-26, up 11.4%, per AAI. About 78% of it was international.
Is Chennai air cargo growing in 2026?
Yes. April to August 2026 freight was 10.6% above the same months of 2025, driven by international cargo.
Who runs the cargo terminal at Chennai airport?
Chennai Customs lists AAI as custodian for imports and exports, and Air India for exports.
Is Chennai air customs open 24 hours?
The Air Cargo Commissionerate lists its hours as 24×7.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- AAI Traffic News, March 2026, Annexure IV: Freight (Airports Authority of India)
- AAI Traffic News, August 2026, Annexure IV: Freight (Airports Authority of India)
- AAI Traffic News summary, August 2026 (Airports Authority of India)
- AAI Traffic News, August 2026, Annexure II: Aircraft Movements (Airports Authority of India)
- Custodian of cargo, Air Cargo (Chennai Customs)
- Export procedure (Chennai Customs)
- Contact us, Air Cargo Commissionerate (Chennai Customs)
- AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services (Airports Authority of India)
