Passengers traveling from Chennai to southern districts of Tamil Nadu are facing challenges during the busy Christmas–New Year holiday season due to the lack of direct flights. The high demand has led to a significant increase in airfares and longer travel times, causing inconvenience for holidaymakers. Many residents of Chennai and its suburbs are heading to their hometowns for the festive season as schools and colleges are closed for extended vacations.
This surge in passenger traffic has particularly impacted Chennai International Airport, especially on routes connecting the city with southern districts, according to airline officials. Direct flights from Chennai to Thoothukudi are fully booked for Wednesday and Thursday, forcing passengers to seek alternative routes. Some travelers have tried to book flights via Thiruvananthapuram but faced the same issue of full bookings due to the festive rush.
As a result, many passengers are now having to opt for connecting flights via Bengaluru before reaching destinations like Thiruvananthapuram or Thoothukudi. This has led to higher ticket prices and longer travel durations, turning what would be short journeys into day-long transits with layovers and multiple flight segments. A similar situation is observed on routes connecting Chennai with Madurai, Tiruchi, and Salem, with passengers having to take longer routes through Bengaluru due to sold-out direct tickets.
Passengers have raised concerns about the lack of sufficient capacity planning during peak holiday periods, emphasizing the predictability of festive travel demand. Many are calling on airlines to add more flights or use larger aircraft on routes from Chennai to key southern destinations like Thoothukudi, Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem, and Coimbatore to alleviate congestion, manage fare increases, and ensure smoother travel experiences during the festive season.
