Chennai Airport (MAA) Flights & Information

As a convenient connecting stop between Europe, South Asia and Australia, Chennai has long been a bustling travel hub. The Tamil Nadu capital is in itself a reason to fly in, with urban beaches, a snapshot of South Indian art and culture, and local food that will leave you asking for more.

As such, it’s no surprise that Chennai International Airport (MAA) currently stands as India’s 5th most busy airport with nearly 400 flights operating to and from domestic and international destinations. And if you’re wondering, its airport code comes from its former name, Madras International Meenambakkam Airport. This expert guide details what you’ll find if you fly into Chennai International Airport today.

Entering Chennai International Airport

Despite being an international hub, MAA typically sees smooth operations. However, I always arrive at least 2 hours in advance for domestic departures and recommend reaching 3 hours in advance for international travel, as the administrative processes take long here and you will want to keep some time for potential added screening from the staff. It’s not uncommon.

I have a habit of showing my ticket and boarding pass on my phone at most airports, but at Chennai International Airport I would suggest carrying a printed copy of your boarding pass, ticket and other important documents. The officials may ask for them at entry, immigration and security checkpoints, and there are no printing services around should you fall short.

Thanks to the integration of DigiYatra at the gates, entry processes have become quicker. You’re unlikely to be able to take advantage of this yourself, but it has helped with crowd management at the entrance with a lot of Indian passengers being able to pass through quickly and keep lines shorter for the rest.

Security lines and immigration

Airline check-in is fairly straightforward. I almost always use the self-check-in kiosks where I can enter my flight details and check myself in. The crowds are much smaller at these kiosks, saving the tedium of waiting in lines. In this case, you will have to drop your luggage at the designated self-check-in baggage drops only.

The security check area is divided by gender and seems to have less passages for women than men, so it might take varying amounts of time to pass for different people. If you are arriving at MAA, expect a slow immigration and customs check upon arrival. The entire process tends to take about an hour, including the time it takes to pick up luggage from the baggage carousel.

Terminal information

MAA operates 2 terminals for domestic departures and 1 for international. You’ll likely board from Terminal 4 for an Air India flight, from Terminal 1 for other domestic carriers and Terminal 2 for all international flights. Just opposite the airport stands the Aerohub shopping mall, connected to the airport via a pedestrian bridge.

The international terminal is stunning to look at, with elemental art showcasing inspiration from South Indian culture, traditions and art. I like saving some extra time to stroll through the different areas while admiring the sculptures and paintings.

The airport is interconnected with sheltered bridges featuring moving walkways that easily connect different terminals. You can also opt for the inter-terminal buses or golf carts if you have too much luggage to tote around. The vehicles run every 10 minutes.

The airport is big and I’ve often found a lot of large, empty spaces, especially in the international terminal area. Fortunately there are several moving walkways and shuttles roaming around inside as well. These can help you commute throughout the airport more easily. Be careful of over-shopping and creating more to carry as even the boarding gates are placed few and far between and require a fair bit of walking.

Public transport at Chennai International Airport

MAA is well connected by public transport. The NLC India Airport Metro offers access from the airport to several major neighborhoods of the city like Thousand Lights, Anna Nagar and Meenambakkam. Metro tickets are inexpensive and can be booked at the station itself or at the metro kiosks at the airport gates. The cars are fully air-conditioned and have separate coaches for women and reserved seating for passengers with disabilities.

Several public buses also leave from the airport to the city center and other areas. You can catch these at the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) at Koyambedu. While locals tend to walk the distance, another option is to catch a shuttle to the metro station as it stands close to the bus terminal.

I avoid traveling by bus in Chennai. There is no air-conditioning in these vehicles, and you will most often find the bus bursting at the seams with too many commuters. The buses stop extensively, providing microscopic connectivity to local neighborhoods, which is why it remains popular among locals.

Cars and taxis at Chennai International Airport

You’ll find prepaid taxi booths at the West Multi Level Car Park (West MLCP), which is in a separate building near arrivals. This is where Ola, Uber, Rapido and other services offer pick-up on the second floor, while airport taxis stand on the third floor.

If you’re arriving at Terminal 1, board a shuttle that runs between the terminal and the taxi pick-up point. It carries around 20 people at a time. I’ve also noticed that cab drivers working for rideshare apps often don’t start moving towards you until you call them and confirm that you are waiting for them at the pick-up point, so don’t try booking until you are there.

I personally prefer Uber thanks to the combination of reasonable prices, reliable journeys, and the ability to book a car without hassle. Pre-booking kiosks of local taxi operators in airport arrival halls charge extremely high fares, and the airport taxis are also slightly more expensive. Ola tends to spike up fares after you have confirmed a booking.

Things to do during a layover

MAA offers free Wi-Fi for up to 45 minutes, but this can only be accessed through Indian SIM cards. There is an Airtel mobile operator store that can help you with roaming plans, but the availability of Indian SIM cards is unreliable here. During long wait times, I tend to snag one of the comfortable sofas near the boarding gates for a quick nap, as the reclining chairs can feel a bit uncomfortable.

If you’re interested in buying local souvenirs, I would suggest looking beyond the airport. There aren’t many shops at Chennai, save for a handful of retail stores and one duty-free shop with limited variety.

Aerohub may be the best shopping here Treat this place as any other shopping mall, and step in if you’d like to shop at Indian and international brand stores. You will also find a food court and movie theater here. But beware that the mall is across the road from the airport, and you will not be able to exit the terminal to go shopping once you’ve checked your luggage in.

The best bet is to remain at the airport if you have limited time, as the hassle of going through entry and administrative procedures all over again might not be worth it.

There is one TFS lounge at Chennai airport, situated at the international terminal. Access is granted if your departure is at least 3 hours from the time of entry to the lounge. While there’s a separate section for business class passengers, all other passengers entering through credit card, Priority Pass and paid access assemble in one common area. Some airline status can also afford you access as well.

Expect a fair amount of bustle and crowd since it’s the only lounge across all terminals. The area outside the lounge feels deserted, with few passengers and not much else to do on the floor, though, so the crowd can be comforting to some. Otherwise, stay outside the lounge and enjoy the calm.