Cargo exports from Tiruchi Airport continue to climb steadily with the Airports Authority of India expecting over 50 per cent growth during the current financial year after registering a high of 410 tonnes of cargo in May, according to The Hindu. Vegetables and fruit accounted for a major portion of the volumes despite the slump in production owing to drought conditions.

Cargo exports from the airport had registered 44 per cent growth in 2012-13 with the cargo terminal handling 2,920 tonnes of cargo versus 2,022 tonnes recorded in the previous financial year. “We expect to handle a minimum of 4,500 tonnes during the current fiscal,” S. Dharmaraj, airport director.

Airport officials attribute the steady growth to increase in uplift capacity, particularly after Tiger Airways began uplifting cargo from India to Singapore in September last year. Sri Lankan Airlines, Air Asia, and Mihin Lanka, are the other carriers moving cargo through Tiruchi. With Air Asia expected to introduce a third daily frequency on the Tiruchi-Kuala Lumpur sector from July, the capacity would increase further, Dharmaraj said.