MP Gurumoorthy Urges Centre to Reconsider Tirupati Airport Privatisation

Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy has urged the Centre to reconsider its decision to privatise Tirupati Airport, calling for its continued development and operation under the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to protect public interests and ensure affordable air travel.

In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Gurumoorthy highlighted the airport’s importance to Tirumala and Tirupati, major spiritual and tourism destinations. He said it serves pilgrims, tourists, students, patients travelling for medical treatment, businesspeople and residents of the Rayalaseema region.

The MP stressed that airport development should not be assessed solely on commercial profitability. Instead, it should prioritise affordable fares, regional connectivity and local economic development.

Raising concerns over rising costs, Gurumoorthy warned that private operators might increase landing, parking and other aeronautical charges to recover investments and meet financial obligations under concession agreements. Such increases could eventually push up airfares and place an additional burden on passengers. He also urged the Centre to consider high parking and service charges at some privately operated airports.

He called for an assessment of the potential impact on taxi drivers, small businesses and thousands of people employed in local service sectors that depend on airport operations.

According to AAI annual statistics cited by the MP, Tirupati Airport handled around 13,000 aircraft movements and 11.96 lakh passengers in 2025–26. Compared with 2024–25, aircraft movements rose by approximately 9.8 per cent, while passenger traffic increased by 20.1 per cent.

Gurumoorthy urged the Centre to allocate additional funds for terminal expansion, more aircraft parking facilities, improved passenger amenities and modern infrastructure to accommodate growing demand.

Clarifying that he supported airport modernisation, the MP called for better infrastructure, greater aircraft-handling capacity and additional domestic and international services under AAI management.

He maintained that public convenience, affordable travel, employment protection and regional development should guide decisions on the airport’s future.