The Chennai air cargo complex briefly shuts down due to goods piling up, causing trade disruptions and redirection of cargo to other airports.
The air cargo complex at Chennai Airport experienced a temporary shutdown on Friday due to a significant accumulation of goods, marking the second such incident within a week. According to officials from a major cargo handling agency, the pile-up forced authorities to briefly halt operations to manage the congestion.
Dinesh K. Krishnan, Chairman of the Air Cargo Agents Association of India, Southern Region, expressed frustration over the recurring issue, emphasising that despite repeated pleas to address the problem, no effective solutions have been implemented so far.
“While an official handling cargo claimed everything was normal, the reality on the ground is different. Poor planning has severely affected trade, with goods being turned away at the gate. This is a collective failure and a shared responsibility,” Krishnan stated.
He further highlighted that the inefficiencies at Chennai Airport are leading to diverted business, with cargo increasingly being redirected to airports in Bengaluru and Hyderabad due to operational challenges and capacity issues.
The disruption underscores ongoing logistical challenges and highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to streamline cargo operations at Chennai Airport to avoid further trade disruptions in the future.
