After 68 years of flights, Air India connecting Madurai and Chennai will cease operations from October 25
Representative image. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos
The Chennai-Madurai-Chennai sector flight operated by Air India (AI) Express may be stopped from October 25, reliable aviation industry sources said on Friday (September 4, 2026).
Operated on the route for 68 long years by both Indian Airlines and Air India, the flight was not only popular among frequent flyers but also passenger-friendly as the ticket was relatively affordable, operators told The Hindu.
With the closure of the sector by AI Express, the route will become a monopoly for Indigo, which operates over five flights a day between the two cities.
Although the closure of the Air India Express flight was attributed to various factors, including poor sponsorship that was not cost-effective, travel agencies and tour operators disagreed, saying that even on Friday, 159 passengers had arrived from Chennai to Madurai on the AI Express and about 70 passengers had traveled to Chennai in the return direction.
The flight departed from Chennai at 10:15 AM and reached Madurai at 11:30 AM. On the return journey, it departed from Madurai at 12 noon and reached Chennai at 1:10 pm.
When Air India claimed that it was no longer viable to operate its flights on the Chennai-Madurai-Chennai sector, how could a service between Madurai and Bengaluru and vice-versa be made commercially viable, asked tour operators and tour operators.
By suspending services on the Chennai-Madurai-Chennai sector, Air India Express has given monopoly status to Indigo, the operators said, appealing to MPs from southern districts to meet the Union Aviation Minister given the importance of the sector.
When Air India added many new services in Tiruchi, including flights to Hyderabad, Singapore and several destinations in the United Arab Emirates, why Madurai was neglected, they asked travel agencies in Madurai, Sivakasi and Karaikudi, hoping that Air India would withdraw its stoppage notice.
A senior member of a travel club in Madurai said many foreign nationals may have planned their trips to southern Tamil Nadu between October and March, which is considered the peak season for tour operators. They might have booked Air India Express tickets or planned to go ahead with bookings to be here soon for Dasara, Deepavali, Christmas and Pongal celebrations.
However, with the airline withdrawing its services from the sector, they may either avoid visiting Madurai or look for alternatives. They could definitely skip Madurai in case of high costs, he added.
Published – 04 Sep 2026 20:29 IST