New Delhi, Aug. 3 -- Chennai will need a second airport over the next five to 10 years to support the city's economic growth and its emergence as a major global manufacturing hub, P Ravichandran, Deputy Chairman, CII Southern Region, said.

Ravichandran said the existing Chennai airport is currently capable of serving the city's requirements and that improving its efficiency could help extend its capacity. However, he stressed that a second airport would become necessary in the medium term, with the choice of location best left to the government.

"Any airport is an economic engine," Ravichandran said, adding that Chennai's requirements extend beyond passenger traffic as the city is increasingly becoming an important manufacturing centre ...