GayleTibbs8 at 10:18, 2 May 2026

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{{Short description|Airport in Madurai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Madurai Airport
| nativename =
| image = MaduraiAirport.JPG
| image-width =
| location = Madurai, [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| elevation-m = 136
| metric-elev = Y
| coordinates = {{coord|09|50|01|N|078|05|22|E|type:airport_region:IN-TN|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label = '''IXM'''
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| metric-rwy = Y
| IATA = IXM
| ICAO = VOMD
| type = Public
| owner = [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]]
| operator = [[Airports Authority of India]]
| city-served = [[Madurai metropolitan area]]
| pushpin_map = India Tamil Nadu#India
| website = {{url|aai.aero/en/airports/madurai}}
| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length-m = 2,285
| stat-year = April 2024 - March 2025
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data = 1,399,046 ({{increase}} 8.8%)
| stat2-header = Aircraft movements
| stat2-data = 13,513 ({{increase}} 13.3%)
| stat3-header = Cargo tonnage
| stat3-data = 3,494 ({{increase}} 6.1%)
| footnotes = Source: [[Airports Authority of India]]<ref name="Passenger">{{cite report|title=Annexure III – Passenger Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex3.pdf|work=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=28 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex2.pdf|work=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=28 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex4.pdf|work=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=28 April 2025}}</ref>
| opened = {{start date and age|1942|||df=y|p=n|br=n}}
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in Tamil Nadu
}}

'''Madurai Airport''' {{Airport codes|IXM|VOMD}} is an [[international airport]] in [[Madurai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India. It is the [[List of busiest airports in India by passenger traffic|fourth busiest airport by passenger traffic]] in the state after [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]], [[Coimbatore International Airport|Coimbatore]], and [[Tiruchirappalli International Airport|Tiruchirappalli airports]]. The airport is located about {{cvt|12|km}} south of the city centre. {{As of|January 2026}}, four airlines operate commercial services from the airport to eight destinations including three international destinations.

The airport was established as an airfield for the [[Royal Air Force]] in 1942 during the [[Second World War]], and was later used for cargo operations. After the [[Indian Independence Act, 1947|Indian independence]], the airport opened in 1952 with commercial passenger flights resuming soon after. The runway was extended in the 1980s to handle larger [[narrow body aircraft]]. It saw limited domestic operations till the 2000s.

The airport went through a modernisation programme in the late 2000s, with a new passenger terminal was opened in 2010. It was notified as a customs airport, with permission for limited international flights in 2011, and international services started in 2012. The old passenger terminal was converted to a cargo terminal and cargo operations at the airport began in December 2017. On 10 March 2026, the union cabinet approved the proposal to designate the airport as an international airport. The airport has a single runway, equipped with an Cat I [[Instrument Landing System]], and seven parking bays.

== History ==
An [[airfield]] was established at [[Madurai]] by the [[Royal Air Force]] during the [[Second World War]] in 1942.<ref name="DM">{{cite web|url=http://www.dinamalar.com/district_detail.asp?id=831468|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023015550/http://www.dinamalar.com/district_detail.asp?id=831468|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2013|title=When will airport improve|access-date=4 July 2015|work=[[Dinamalar]]|lang=ta}}</ref><ref name="Hist">{{cite web|url=https://www.airport-technology.com/projects/madurai-international-airport/?cf-view|title=Madurai international airport|work=Airport technology|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> After the war, the airstrip was used to ferry mail and newspapers. After the [[Indian Independence Act, 1947|Indian independence]], the airport was revived, and was opened as a domestic airport in 1952.<ref name="Info">{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/en/node/70611|title=Madurai airport|work=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> The first passenger flight operated from [[Madras Airport|Madras]] to [[Trivandrum airport|Trivandrum]] via Madurai using a [[Fokker Friendship]] aircraft in 1956.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="Info"/> Flights operated from the airport to [[Ratmalana Airport|Colombo]] in the early 1960s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Techno-economic Survey of Kerala|publisher=[[National Council of Applied Economic Research]]|year=1962|page=135}}</ref> In the mid 1970s, the [[runway]] was strengthened and extended to handle larger [[narrow body aircraft]], with [[Indian Airlines]] operating [[Boeing 737]] aircraft to the airport soon after. In the 1980s, Indian Airlines started operating regular flights to [[HAL Airport|Bangalore]] using [[Hawker Siddeley HS 748]] aircraft, and later [[Vayudoot]] operated flights from Madurai to Madras, [[Coimbatore Airport|Coimbatore]], and [[Tiruchirappalli Airport|Trichy]].<ref name="Info"/>

In the 1990s, the airport saw a number of companies operate flight services from the airport. [[East-West Airlines (India)|East-West Airlines]] operated services to [[Bombay Airport|Bombay]] and Trivandrum from 1992 to 1996. In the mid 1990s, briefly, Indian Airlines was the only carrier operating from the airport, with services to Madras. [[NEPC Airlines]] launched daily flight services from Madurai to Madras and Trichy briefly, before it shut down in 1997, and later Indian Airlines extended its Madras service to Bombay. [[Jet Airways]] began operations in the late 1990s with connections from Madurai to Bombay initially and Madras later. In the mid 2000s, [[Simplifly Deccan]] and [[Paramount Airways]] operated flights to Bangalore and Chennai respectively. However, both the airlines wound up operations during the [[Great Recession]] in the late 2000s.<ref name="Info"/>

In the late 2000s, the airport was selected to be modernised as a part of a plan by [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI) to upgrade 35 Indian non-metro airports, and a new passenger terminal was opened in September 2010.<ref name="Info"/><ref name="Hist"/>
<ref name="New">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-logistics/article1003852.ece?ref=archive|title=New Terminal at Madurai airport inaugurated|work=[[Business Line]]|date=12 September 2010|access-date=4 July 2015}}</ref> Later that year, [[SpiceJet]] started services to Chennai, [[Delhi Airport|Delhi]], and Mumbai with [[Begumpet Airport|Hyderabad]] added later.<ref name="Info"/> On 31 December 2011 The airport was notified as [[customs airport]], which enabled the airport to handle limited international operations and it came into effect from 1 January 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/06/stories/2011010661760300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107075820/http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/06/stories/2011010661760300.htm |url-status=dead|archive-date=7 January 2011| work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Customs facility for Madurai airport|date=6 January 2011}}</ref> Two [[Air charter|chartered flights]] from Malaysia landed at the airport on 25 August 2012, making them the first international aircraft to land at the airport after the declaration.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-26/madurai/33401680_1_madurai-airport-mihin-lanka-customs-airport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021347/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-26/madurai/33401680_1_madurai-airport-mihin-lanka-customs-airport|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Two international flights greet Madurai|date=26 August 2012}}</ref> The first commercial international flight began on 20 September 2012 with SpiceJet operating a maiden service to [[Bandaranaike Airport|Colombo]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-21/madurai/34001190_1_s-rethinavelu-tncci-spicejet-flight |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014600/http://farticles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-21/madurai/34001190_1_s-rethinavelu-tncci-spicejet-flight|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Finally, Madurai gets international connectivity|date=21 September 2012}}</ref> In 28 May 2013, the [[Government of India]] permitted cargo operations at the airport,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/centre-clears-cargo-movement-at-madurai-airport/article4763457.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Centre clears cargo movement at Madurai airport|date=30 May 2013|access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref> which became operational from 15 December 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/madurai-airport-to-handle-international-cargo-from-dec-15/article9978358.ece|title=Madurai airport to handle international cargo from 15 Dec|work=[[Business Line]]|date=30 November 2017|access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref> [[IndiGo]] launched operations from the airport in March 2017 with a maiden service to Delhi via Chennai.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/indigo-launches-madurai-operations-to-connect-delhi-chennai/articleshow/57408123.cms|title=IndiGo launches Madurai operations|date=1 March 2017|access-date=1 June 2025|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> On 17 October 2018, [[visa on arrival]] facility was introduced for passengers traveling from select countries.<ref>{{cite news|date=17 October 2018|title=e-Visa on arrival introduced at Madurai airport|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/e-visa-on-arrival-introduced-at-madurai-airport/articleshow/66264901.cms |access-date=30 October 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> On 10 March 2026, the union cabinet approved the proposal to designate the airport as an international airport.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/cabinet-approves-international-status-for-madurai-airport20260310173032|title=Cabinet approves international status for Madurai Airport|access-date=10 March 2026|work=[[Asian News International|ANI]]|date=10 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=At last, Madurai Airport becomes international terminal |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/at-last-madurai-airport-becomes-international-terminal/article70726970.ece|date=10 March 2026|access-date=10 March 2026}}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==
[[File:Checkin counters at Madurai airport.jpg|thumb|Check-in counters at the airport]]
[[File:Interior of Madurai Airport, Sep 2016.jpg|thumb|Interior of the airport]]

The airport has a single {{cvt|2285|m}} long runway equipped with Cat-I [[Instrument Landing System]]. There are two parallel [[taxiways]] adjacent to the runway. The airport has seven parking bays including two stands equipped with [[jet bridges]].<ref name="Info"/><ref name="Hist"/>

=== Terminals ===
The airport has two adjacent terminals, the integrated passenger terminal which was inaugurated on 12 September 2010, and the old passenger terminal which was recommissioned as a cargo terminal. The new passenger terminal was built as a part of a plan to upgrade the airport in the late 2000s.<ref name="New"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/28/stories/2008032856770100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329053727/http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/28/stories/2008032856770100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 March 2008|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Madurai airport expansion planned| date=28 March 2008}}</ref> The terminal is spread over an area of {{cvt|17600|m2}} and has a capacity to handle about 500 passengers per hour.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madurai-airport-may-get-new-terminal-building/article20622677.ece|title=Madurai airport may get new terminal building|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 November 2017|access-date=11 February 2018}}</ref> The terminal houses 36 check-in counters, 20 immigration counters, two security counters, two baggage scanners, and four baggage conveyors.<ref name="Hist"/><ref>{{cite report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402175622/http://www.aai.aero/misc/AAI_Update_PDF_file_august2011.pdf|date=August 2011|url=http://www.aai.aero/misc/AAI_Update_PDF_file_august2011.pdf|archive-date=2 April 2012|page=13|title=AAI update|work=[[Airports Authority of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/madurai_TI.jsp|title=Airports Authority of India|date=6 January 2011|access-date=29 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220105807/http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/madurai_TI.jsp |archive-date=20 February 2013}}</ref> There are two lounges–a VIP lounge managed by AAI and a Commercial Important Persons lounge managed by Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/article2825276.ece|title=Madurai : CIP lounge taken on lease|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=23 January 2012|access-date=29 January 2012}}</ref>

Following the inauguration of the new passenger terminal, the Government of India announced plans to convert the old terminal to handle cargo operations in 2013. The refurbished cargo terminal was opened on 28 November 2017.<ref name="Hindu"/><ref name="Expand">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-20/madurai/31214142_1_madurai-airport-immigration-counters-aai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030003706/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-20/madurai/31214142_1_madurai-airport-immigration-counters-aai|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 October 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Land acquisition for Madurai airport soon}}</ref> The airport parking area has the capacity to park 375 cars and 10 buses.<ref name="Hist"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/legislators-tour-operators-demand-international-flights-from-madurai-203867|title=Legislators, tour operators demand international flights from Madurai|work=[[NDTV]]|date=29 April 2012|access-date=25 July 2012}}</ref>

=== Future plans ===
As a part of the modernisation plan in the late 2000s, plans were made for the construction of additional terminal buildings, and a new [[Air Traffic Control]] tower, and expansion of the runway.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130530/news-current-affairs/article/madurai-airport-handle-foreign-cargo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022023057/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130530/news-current-affairs/article/madurai-airport-handle-foreign-cargo |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 October 2013 |title=Madurai airport to handle foreign cargo |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|access-date=11 February 2018}}</ref> About {{cvt|610|acre}} of land is required for the planned expansion and extension of the runway to {{cvt|12500|ft}} to enable it to handle [[wide body aircraft]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/article740150.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=New airport terminal to boost industrial growth|date=21 September 2010|access-date=1 June 2012}}</ref> However, problems with land acquisition has resulted in delays in the proposed expansion plan.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/madurai-tuticorin-airports-to-get-land-soon-for-expansion/article4733608.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|first=P.| last=Oppili|title=Madurai, Tuticorin airports to get land soon for expansion|date=21 May 2013}}</ref>

== Airlines and destinations ==
[[File:Flights at Madurai airport.jpg|thumb|Apron area of the airport]]

As of January 2026, four airlines operate commercial services from the airport to eight destinations including three international destinations. While there are demands for additional international flights from Madurai,<ref>{{cite news|title=TN Chamber of Commerce urges airlines to operate flights between Madurai-Kuala Lumpur|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/apr/08/tn-chamber-of-commerce-urges-airlines-to-operate-flights-between-madurai-kuala-lumpur-2439516.html|access-date=30 October 2023|work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>, the airport is allowed to handle only limited international flights and as it is not part of the [[Bilateral aviation safety agreement]], international air carriers have shown reluctance for operating flights from the airport.<ref>{{cite news|date=26 May 2023 |title=CM promises steps to increase Singapore-Madurai flights|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/cm-promises-steps-to-increase-singapore-madurai-flights/articleshow/100516328.cms|access-date=30 October 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=16 December 2022|title=10 years on, wait for Madurai airport to work 24x7 continues|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/10-years-on-wait-for-madurai-airport-to-work-24x7-continues/articleshow/96266295.cms|access-date=30 October 2023|issn=0971-8257}}</ref>


{{Airport-dest-list

|[[Air India]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?baseLocale=en_US?page=jsp/dgca/InventoryList/airOperation/certification/scheduled/domestic/2025/Air%20India%20Ltd_flight_Schedule.pdf&mainnull|title=Winter Schedule 2025-26: Air India|work=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]]|access-date=1 December 2025}}</ref> | [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Air India to resume services from Madurai to Chennai, New Delhi |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2025/Oct/30/air-india-to-resume-services-from-madurai-to-chennai-new-delhi |access-date=27 January 2026 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=30 October 2025 }}</ref> [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]]<ref>{{cite news |title=More domestic, international flights from Madurai by March |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/madurai-airport-to-boost-connectivity-with-new-domestic-and-international-flights-by-march-2025/articleshow/113947457.cms |access-date=27 January 2026 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=4 October 2024}}</ref>

|[[IndiGo]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?baseLocale=en_US?page=jsp/dgca/InventoryList/airOperation/certification/scheduled/domestic/2025/INTERGLOBE%20AVIATION%20LTD_flight_Schedule.pdf&mainundefined|title=Winter Schedule 2025-26: IndiGo|work=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]]|access-date=1 December 2025}}</ref> | [[Zayed International Airport|Abu Dhabi]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/indigo-to-operate-direct-flight-service-between-madurai-and-abu-dhabi-from-june-13/article69575977.ece|title=IndiGo to operate direct flight service between Madurai and Abu Dhabi from June 13|date=14 May 2025|access-date=1 June 2025|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bengaluru]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pavithran |first1=Lekshmy |title='Mayday' alert: IndiGo flight with 168 passengers makes emergency landing after fuel emergency |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/indigo-flight-declares-mayday-makes-emergency-landing-after-fuel-emergency-1.500171866 |access-date=27 January 2026 |work=[[Gulf News]] |date=21 June 2025 }}</ref> [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]],<ref name="IndiGo">{{cite news |title=At least 10 services from Trichy, Madurai cancelled |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/at-least-10-services-from-trichy-madurai-cancelled/articleshow/125792448.cms |access-date=27 January 2026 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=6 December 2025}}</ref> [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]],<ref name="IndiGo"/> [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|Hyderabad]],<ref name="IndiGo"/> [[Navi_Mumbai_International_Airport|Navi Mumbai]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/260310-6ens26nmi |title=IndiGo Expands Navi Mumbai Operations From late March 2026 |work=Aero Routes |access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref>

|[[SpiceJet]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?baseLocale=en_US?page=jsp/dgca/InventoryList/airOperation/certification/scheduled/domestic/2025/Spice%20Jet_flight_Schedule.pdf&mainnull|title=Winter Schedule 2025-26: SpiceJet|work=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]]|access-date=1 December 2025}}</ref> | [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]],<ref>{{cite news |title=13 Flights Cancelled At Chennai Airport, Several Flyers Affected |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!state/many-flights-cancelled-at-chennai-airport-several-flyers-affected-enn24121105341 |access-date=27 January 2026 |work=[[ETV Bharat]] |date=11 December 2024 }}</ref> [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai–International]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/spicejet-revises-dubaimadurai-direct-flight-timings|title=SpiceJet revises Dubai–Madurai direct flight timings |date=5 January 2026|access-date=10 January 2026|work=[[DT Next]] }}</ref>
|{{nowrap|[[SriLankan Airlines]]}} | [[Bandaranaike International Airport|Colombo–Bandaranaike]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/business/srilankan-airlines-all-set-to-welcome-indian-travellers-this-winter-season-1030346|title=SriLankan Airlines All Set to Welcome Indian Travellers This Winter Season|date=11 December 2025|access-date=10 January 2026|work=[[Hans India]] }}</ref>
||}}

== Incidents and accidents ==
On 9 December 1971, an Avro 748 (registered VT-DXG), arriving from Trivandrum, crashed in to [[Meghamalai]] hills, while descending into the airport. The accident occurred in reduced visibility, and resulted in the deaths of all four crew members and 17 of the 27 passengers on board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dgca.nic.in/accident/Accident%20Summary%201971.PDF|title=Accident Summary 1971|work=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]]|access-date=1 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/05/05/stories/2003050500340200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030630010200/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/05/05/stories/2003050500340200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2003|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Hero of an air crash|access-date=8 August 2018}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Commons category-inline|Madurai Airport}}
* {{official website|http://www.airportsindia.org.in/allAirports/madurai_airpo_gi.jsp}}

{{Portal bar|India|Aviation}}
{{Airports in India}}

{{Indian Air Force}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Airports in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Madurai]]
[[Category:Transport in Madurai]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Airports Authority of India]]

Madurai Airport - Revision history

GayleTibbs8 at 10:18, 2 May 2026