Chennai International Airport (IATA: MAA) is the third busiest in India . All international flights arrive at
Anna Terminal, while the domestic flights arrive at Kamraj Terminal. The two terminals are on the same
road and are 150 metres away from each other.
Europe and the United States: Lufthansa (Frankfurt), Air France (Paris), Jet Airways (Brussels) and
British Airways (London-Heathrow), fly nonstop to Chennai with connecting service from their European
hubs to points in the United States. Jet Airways is the only airline flying to the States (New York-JFK) via
Brussels.
South-East Asia: Thai Airways offers nonstop service to Bangkok, Singapore Airlines and Tiger Airways
connects you to Singapore along with many Indian carriers like Indian Airlines and Air India Express.
Malaysia Airlines offer nonstop service to Kuala Lumpur. India's very own Jet Airways flies non-stop to
both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Middle East: Nonstop services are available from Chennai to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Dammam,
Doha,Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat, Riyadh and Sharjah on Air Arabia, Indian Airlines, Air India Express,
Oman Air, Emirates, Etihad, Kuwait Airways, Saudi Arabian and Gulf Air.
Sri-Lanka: Chennai is a hub for flights to Colombo with SriLankan Airlines, Jet Airways, Indian Airlines,
Air India Express, JetLite and recently joining the race Kingfisher Airlines.
Domestic: All the major Indian domestic carriers (Jet Airways, Kingfisher, Spice, Go Air, Indigo) connect
Chennai with multiple flights to points all over India and most use Chennai as a hub for flights to smaller
cities in South India. Paramount Airways is a low cost all business class airline that offers flights from
Chennai to points in South India. Chennai is also a staging point for flights to Port Blair in the Andaman
Islands.
Important phone numbers
Indian Airlines General Inquiry 140
Indian Airlines Arrivals and Departures (Recorded) 142
Indian Airlines Reservations 141/+91 44 22561971
Jet Airways +91 44 2841 4141
Jet Lite +91 44 5211 0202/ +91 44 3498 0688
Air Deccan +91 9840377008
Airport to City connection
Use the pre-paid taxi to get to the city, each terminal has several booths for several taxi companieswhen you exit the airport, outside before you meet the crowd. Aviation Express has the best rep, figureon around Rs. 450 to the city centre for a Toyota Innova or equivalent. The fares are different for thedomestic and international terminals though the terminals are next to each other. You can either choosethe standard Taxis (Black with Yellow tops) which are usually the ancient Ambassador cars or the private call-taxi (which can come in any model and in any color). It's better to keep small change in hand as the counter staff rarely have change. Note the taxi number written on your charge slip (one copy is for the passenger and the other is for the driver to collect the fare from the counter). Once out of the terminal you'll have a tough time warding off all the touts and taxi drivers soliciting passengers. Make your way through this crowd and across the drive to the taxi stand. Get the taxi number allotted at the designated desk. The helpful drivers offer to take your luggage and guide you to the taxi that drives up quickly near the allotment desk. You can also get to the city center by train. Just get outside of the airport, cruising by the hordes of touts and taxi and autorickshaw drivers, and keep walking to the main road. There is an underpass that you can use to get across the highway. From there you can go to the center of the city very easily. It is better that you take a first class ticket as First class coaches are less crowded.
By train
Chennai has two main long-distance train stations, Chennai Central (code MAS) and Egmore (code MS), with daily trains from/to Bangalore, Bombay, Coimbatore, Delhi and virtually all other major Indian cities. If you happen to arrive at the Central Station, you'll have to hand over your journey tickets to the Ticket Collector waiting at the exit. Make your way through this crowd and reach the 'pre-paid' autorickshaw /Taxi stand.
By bus
Chennai has one of Asia's largest bus stations, CMBT. Seven different state owned corporations drive buses to and from various destinations within South India. There are hourly buses for places like Tirupati, Pondicherry, Coimbatore. You will get the option of A/C or Non-A/C coaches for cities like Bangalore, Trivandrum, Hyderabad.
Several private players also operate buses between most southern destinations. During the weekends most buses are fully occupied and it's better to reserve a ticket in advance. All buses terminate near Koyambedu but there are different stands for state owned(CMBT), and private buses (Omni bus terminus). Both these terminus are near each other, and it is better to tell your exact destination to the taxi/autorickshaw driver. Buses usually drop passengers at various points in the city before reaching the Terminus terminus. Feel free to ask the driver or fellow passengers the closest drop-off point to your destination.
CMBT Enquiry : +91 44 2479 5547.
By car
Chennai is very well connected and to other parts of India by road. Five major national highways radiate outward towards Kolkata, Bangalore, Tiruchy/Madurai, Tiruvallur, and Pondicherry. With the progress of the Golden Quadrilateral project, driving down from Bangalore is actually an option, but driving in India is still dangerous if you are a foreigner unused to the Indian Laws.
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