India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has flagged off a strategic new project “One Airport, One Product” with its debut at Tuticorin Airport in Tamil Nadu, aiming to transform regional air cargo logistics and empower local producers for global markets. The program, inspired by the successful “One District, One Product” (ODOP) approach, focuses on building specialized air cargo infrastructure tailored to the key export commodities of each airport’s surrounding region.
The “One Airport, One Product” initiative will position airports as specialized export hubs catering to local strengths. At Tuticorin, the scheme targets perishable and high-value regional goods such as seafood, flowers, bananas, and palm-based products. Dedicated cargo zones, product-specific cold storage, and streamlined customs clearance are being implemented to accelerate exports, minimize spoilage, and meet international quality standards.
A newly inaugurated terminal, built at an investment of INR. 452 crore, significantly expands Tuticorin Airport’s passenger and cargo handling capacity. This upgrade not only supports tourism and passenger movement but also gives a major fillip to the flow of trade and commercial activity from southern Tamil Nadu to global destinations. The new infrastructure integrates advanced cargo facilities, export documentation services, and improved logistics connectivity linking agricultural and industrial clusters to the airport.
Following its debut in Tuticorin, the government plans to replicate the model at other key airports across India. Airports may be identified for products such as mangoes (Lucknow), pharmaceutical goods (Hyderabad), handicrafts (Jaipur), and textiles (Coimbatore), aligning airport cargo services to the economic specializations of their regions. This tailored approach is expected to reduce logistics costs, boost export competitiveness, and generate employment opportunities in hinterland economies.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative, involving the Airports Authority of India, Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), state governments, and private cargo operators. Training and support, product traceability, and digital tracking are also being prioritized to meet rising global trade norms.
Local exporters and farmer-producer organizations have welcomed the innovation, foreseeing faster market access, higher incomes, and greater integration with global value chains. The initiative dovetails with the government’s wider “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision, offering Indian products a stronger foothold in international markets.
