Calls grow for international connectivity from Madurai airport

Madurai: Three months after launching night operations, Madurai Airport has received only one domestic night flight—a Chennai-Madurai service. Aviation experts and industry stakeholders are urging the government to include Madurai in bilateral air service agreements, allowing international carriers to operate from the airport. They argue that despite strong demand, the region remains underserved, and expanding international connectivity would boost both travel options and the local economy.Mahendra Varman, senior member of the Madurai Infrastructure and Development Group, pointed out that 18 airports, including Trichy, Port Blair, and Goa, were granted point-of-call (PoC) status for foreign carriers from seven ASEAN nations under the Open Skies policy, based on tourism and cultural significance. "It is ironic that Madurai, despite its rich cultural and tourism potential, was excluded from these agreements. This needs revision to strengthen Indian carriers and regional airports," he said. He also noted that AirAsia has expressed interest in flying to Madurai since 2003, but restrictive bilateral agreements have prevented this.Aviation enthusiast Mohammed Mustafa emphasized the need for a policy shift. "With rising air traffic post-Covid, the government should not view PoC approvals as competition for domestic carriers. No airline has stepped forward to operate international flights from Madurai. If this continues, the city will lose potential international passengers to Trichy, just 100 km away," he warned.Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president N Jegatheesan highlighted the challenges in upgrading Madurai Airport. "We fought hard to secure 24/7 operations. The next step is obtaining international airport status. Right now, Madurai is still classified as a customs airport, with only limited international flights and a single PoC—SriLankan Airlines. International status would allow foreign travellers to get visas on arrival here," he explained.Jegatheesan also raised concerns about the stalled runway expansion project. "We have petitioned civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to grant international status to Madurai Airport. Additionally, we have urged chief minister M K Stalin to reconsider building an underpass for the Madurai-Aruppukottai Road instead of rerouting it, as land acquisition remains a challenge. The underpass model has been successfully implemented at several airports in India," he added.A senior Airports Authority of India (AAI) official acknowledged that while airlines have shown interest in early morning domestic flights, few are considering international operations. "Granting PoC status to Madurai is challenging due to its proximity to Trichy, which already has access to multiple international destinations. However, if the central government recognizes Madurai's potential, PoC status may be considered," the official said. He also noted that the airport has infrastructure for night parking of up to 12 aircraft, making it well-equipped for expansion if more carriers step forward.

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