Madurai Airport

Madurai Airport மதுரை வானூர்தி நிலையம்
Madurai Airport in 2012
IATA: IXM ICAO: VOMD
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner/Operator	Airports Authority of India
Serves	Madurai
Location	Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Elevation AMSL	136 m / 446 ft
Coordinates	09°50′01″N 078°05′22″E / 9.83361°N 78.08944°E / 9.83361; 78.08944Coordinates: 09°50′01″N 078°05′22″E / 9.83361°N 78.08944°E / 9.83361; 78.08944
Website
Map
IXM Show map of Tamil Nadu IXM Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 09/27 2,285 7,497 Asphalt
Statistics (2016)
Passengers movements 969,460(27.46%) Aircraft movements 11,462(29.85%) Cargo tonnage 923(4.45%)
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

Madurai Airport (IATA: IXM, ICAO: VOMD) is a customs airport^[4] (Tamil:மதுரை வானூர்தி நிலையம்) serving Madurai and its surrounding districts in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The airport is located about 12 km (7.5 mi) from the Madurai railway station and near State Highway 37, the airport was established in 1957^[5] and is the Fourth-busiest airport in terms of passenger movement and aircraft movement in the state after Chennai, Coimbatore and Trichy^[6]. Madurai airport recorded a whopping 1,20,554 of overall passenger movements surpassing Trichy Airport by 3000 passengers with an overall load factor of 86%^[7]. A website in the name of Madurai Airport with all data has been started by fans of Madurai Airport, a first of its kind^[8].

History

Madurai airfield was first used by the Royal Air Force in World War II in 1942.^[9] The first passenger flight was a Fokker Friendship aircraft on the Madras – Madurai – Trivandrum – Madurai – Madras route in 1956.^[10]

It was identified as one of 35 non-metro airports for modernisation, and thus the new integrated terminal building was inaugurated on 12 September 2010.^[11] The airport was notified as customs airport. The notification, issued on 31 December 2011, came into effect from 1 January 2012.^[12] In a historic event, two chartered flights from Malaysia landed at the airport on 25 August 2012, making them the first international aircraft that landed in the temple city.^[13] The first commercial international flight started on 20 September 2012 by SpiceJet commencing its maiden service to Colombo.^[14] Spicejet started its second international flight from Madurai to Dubai on 22 November 2013.

In order to boost exports from Madurai and its surrounding districts, the Department of Revenue under the Union Ministry of Finance has issued a notification dated 28 May 2013 permitting the airport to handle cargo.^[15]

Terminals

The airport has two adjacent terminals. Currently the integrated terminal is used for both international and domestic purposes. The Airports Authority of India is planning to convert the old terminal into a cargo complex.^[16]

Passenger terminal

As the part of modernising 35 non-metro airports, AAI constructed a new, state-of-the-art integrated passenger terminal adjacent to the old terminal. The ₹1.29 billion (US$20 million) new integrated passenger terminal building was inaugurated on 12 September 2010.^[11] A total of 610 acres (250 ha) of land is under acquisition for the expansion of the runway to 12,500 ft (3,800 m) to accommodate large jet aircraft.^[17] This terminal with an area of 17,560 m² (189,000 sq ft) can handle a passenger capacity of 250 each on arrival and departure.^[18][19] The airport parking area has the capacity to park 375 cars and 10 buses.^[20] Some of the features of the new terminal include:^[21]

• 16 check-in counters
• 12 immigration counters
• 1 security counter
• 5 customs counters
• 3 conveyor belts (47 m (154 ft) each)
• 2 X-ray scanners for baggage
• 211 CISF strength
• 7 aircraft stands
  • 1 B767-400
  • 1 A310-300
  • 1 A321-200
  • 2 B737-800W/A320-200
  • 2 ATR 72–500.^[21]

The new terminal has two lounges, a VIP lounge managed by AAI and a Commercial Important Persons (CIP) lounge managed by Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TNCC-Madurai).^[22]

Cargo terminal

Considering the growing cargo potential in Madurai Airport, AAI has decided to modify the old terminal into a full-fledged cargo complex.^[16] To start with, the Union finance ministry has issued customs notification dated May 28, 2013 to handle cargo at the Madurai airport. Works are going on a fast pace to start cargo lifting in the end of March 2014. A cold storage facility is also being established for perishable cargo which is expected to dominate the export from this region. International Cargo will start its operation from April 2017.

Runway

The main runway is 2,285 m × 45 m (7,497 ft × 148 ft) with a PCN 92 R/B/W/T (Rigid), 8 F/A/W/T (Flexible) fit for B737-800 series. ILS Cat-I is available for main runway 09/27.^[21]

Expansion

The master plan of the airport includes a cargo complex along with two additional terminal buildings, expansion of runway and other facilities. The authority wants additional land for the same along with air traffic control tower and other facilities to cater to the increasing passenger movement.^[23][24]

Runway extension

AAI had asked around 610 acres of land in Madurai to take up runway extension work. The state government has promised that land will be acquired and handed over on time. In response to that, the district administration has proposed to acquire 610 acres of land to expand the Madurai airport. The proposed site, including 100 acres of poromboke land, would pave way for extending the runway to 12,500 ft enabling the airport to handle overseas services. A team comprising Airports Authority of India, Highways Department and Madurai Corporation officials had identified the site on the eastern side of the airport that would intersect the Ring Road over 5 km. As per the plan, the Ring Road would be disconnected at Mandela Junction and diverted via Perungudi and Avaniapuram to connect the Tuticorin Road.^[25]

Airlines and destinations

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Madurai Airport.

• Madurai Airport, AAI Site