Chennai International Airport

Chennai International Airport is about 21 km (13 miles) southwest of the city center, at Meenambakkam on GST Road. The Chennai Metro Blue Line runs from the airport station north through Guindy into the city, and taxis, app cabs and pre-booked cars cover the trip by road, which takes longer at rush hour.

Chennai airport has three terminals in use. Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 handle domestic flights, and Terminal 2, the new integrated terminal, handles all international flights. The old international Terminal 3 was demolished to extend Terminal 2. The terminals stand side by side along one frontage, with the multilevel parking garage in front.

All international flights use Terminal 2, the new integrated terminal that replaced the older international buildings. Passengers arriving from abroad clear immigration and customs in Terminal 2. Domestic flights use Terminal 1 or Terminal 4, so if you are connecting to a flight within India, check your boarding pass for the terminal.

IndiGo's domestic jet flights use Terminal 1, and all IndiGo arrivals, including its ATR turboprops, come into Terminal 1. Since June 2025, IndiGo's ATR departures with flight numbers 7000 to 7999 leave from Terminal 4. IndiGo's international flights use Terminal 2. Check the terminal and aircraft type on your booking before you travel.

Yes. Chennai International Airport Metro station, beside the terminals, is the southern end of the Blue Line, which runs north through Guindy and the city center. It is the quickest way into the city by rail and avoids road traffic, though you carry your own bags to the platform and back at the other end.

Yes. Tirusulam station on the Chennai suburban railway is next to the airport and joined to the Metro station. Suburban trains run often, but they are crowded at peak hours and have little room for large suitcases, so most travelers with luggage take the Metro, a taxi or a pre-booked car instead.

Yellow-board taxis and other pickups load at the pick-up plaza outside Terminal 1, opened in September 2026, with lit signs from Terminal 4 to the multilevel parking garage. Guidance staff at key points direct arriving passengers there. App-based cabs use the signposted pickup areas, so check the zone your app gives you before you walk out.

No. As at other Indian airports, only passengers with a ticket for a flight that day may enter the terminal buildings. Family, friends and pre-booked drivers wait outside the arrivals exit of your terminal, usually holding a name sign. Agree on which terminal you arrive at, Terminal 2 for international or Terminal 1 for domestic flights.

Most foreign visitors need an Indian visa or an e-Visa approved before departure, and a passport valid for the length of their stay. Since 1 April 2026 all foreign nationals, including OCI cardholders, must also file the e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing and show its QR code at immigration in Terminal 2.

Yes. Travel Club runs lounges in every terminal, all open 24 hours: one in international Terminal 2 after passport control, two in Terminal 1 near Gates 1 and 5, and one in Terminal 4 opposite Gate 17. Entry is with eligible premium tickets, memberships such as Priority Pass, eligible cards, or a paid pass.

The six-level parking garage in front of the terminals has room for 2,237 cars and opened in 2022. It serves all three terminals, and battery-operated vehicles run between the garage and the terminals for passengers who need help with the distance. Check the airport's signs for the entry used for pickups.

Yes. The Aerohub, just in front of the terminals, has a transit hotel with 59 rooms, along with shops, restaurants and a cinema multiplex. It suits travelers with a long layover or a very early departure who want to stay within walking distance of the terminals rather than head into the city.

Chennai is on India Standard Time, UTC+5:30, all year. India does not use daylight saving time, so the time difference with Europe and North America changes when those regions switch their clocks. Flight times on your ticket and booking are always shown in local time at each airport.