namma mejura

The Madurai airport is slowly gaining in stature. The increase in number of flights to Madurai were slow and unnoticed. Still a long way to go, but now, 10 flights arrive and depart at Madurai. Of these 9 of them either goes to Chennai or fly via Chennai.

On last count, the operators are…

• 4 flights – Paramount (3 Chennai, 1 Bangalore via Chennai)
• 3 flights – Air Deccan (2 Chennai & 1 Bangalore direct)
• 2 flights – Jet Airways (Chennai)
• 1 flight – Indian (Mumbai via Chennai)

Get the latest flight schedules here. Srilankan airlines is said to be keen on operating a flight to Madurai. But space for immigration check etc were woefully inadequate.

Madurai Chamber of Commerce campaigns to open a central institute for pilot training, touting Madurai as a ‘fog free’ airport. ‘Fog free’ is indeed a different view of this sun-drenched city.

It is now confirmed that budget airline Air Deccan will fly between Chennai to Tuticorin via Madurai (DN-145). It will be a day-time flight starting from Chennai by 9.15 am and reaches Madurai around 10.30 am.

After a 20 min stopover, it reaches Tuticorin by 11.15 am and will not touch Madurai on return path. So Madurai – Chennai flyers will touch Tuticorin and fly all the way to Chennai along the coast. This will be an impressive day time flight for kids as the altitude for this ATR-42 flight will be lower than the Jets.

For a 10.30 am flight at Madurai, people have to start atleast by 9.30 am from the City. They will land in Chennai by 1 pm. It will not be very practical for biz people to spend nearly half-a day for Madurai – Chennai flight trip. Vaigai express would be more practical & very cheap.