Tirupati YSRCP MP Urges Centre to Retain Airport Under AAI Management
In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, the MP requested that the airport remain under AAI administration and called for additional investment to expand its infrastructure and improve passenger amenities.
Gurumoorthy said Tirupati and Tirumala were among the country’s prominent spiritual and tourist destinations, making the airport a vital transport hub for pilgrims, tourists, students, medical visitors, businesspeople and residents of the Rayalaseema region.
He argued that airport development should not be assessed solely on commercial profitability, but should also prioritise affordable air travel, public accessibility and regional development.
Expressing concern over the proposed privatisation, the MP said private management could lead to higher airport charges as operators seek to recover investments and meet financial obligations under concession agreements. Increases in landing, parking and other aeronautical charges, as well as passenger fees, could eventually translate into higher airfares, he said.
He also urged the Centre to consider the possible impact on the livelihoods of taxi drivers, small traders and workers in local service industries who depend on airport-related economic activity.
Citing AAI’s annual statistics, Gurumoorthy said Tirupati Airport recorded approximately 13,000 aircraft movements and handled around 11.96 lakh passengers in 2025-26.
Aircraft movements increased by about 9.8 per cent and passenger traffic by 20.1 per cent compared with 2024-25, he said.
In view of the rising traffic, he sought additional funds for terminal expansion, more aircraft parking facilities, improved passenger amenities and modern infrastructure.
Clarifying his position, the MP said he was not opposed to the airport’s development or modernisation, but maintained that public interest, affordable travel, local employment and improved connectivity should remain the primary considerations.
He also called for additional domestic and international flight services and measures to enhance the airport’s capacity to meet the growing transportation needs of the region.
TNT LE
