Madurai Airport is an international airport serving Madurai and its adjoining districts in Tamil Nadu, India. It is the 38th busiest airport in India, both in terms of passengers handled and aircraft movement. The airport is located near State Highway 37, about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the city centre. It was established in 1957.

Madurai is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is governed by the Madurai Municipal Corporation established in 1 November 1866. As of the 2011 census, it is the third largest metropolis in Tamil Nadu after Chennai and Coimbatore in terms of population and 27th largest urban agglomeration in India. Located on the banks of River Vaigai, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and has a documented history of more than 2500 years. It is often referred to as "Thoonga Nagaram", meaning "the city that never sleeps".