Chennai to Aurangabad flight guide — 1-stop via Hyderabad or Mumbai, Ajanta/Ellora gateway, airlines, fares and tips for 2026.
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Quick answer: Chennai to Aurangabad flights take about ≈ 4h–6h total (1-stop via Hyderabad or Mumbai), operated by IndiGo, Air India (via HYD or BOM), No non-stop — ≈ 3–5 daily 1-stop options via Hyderabad (HYD) or Mumbai (BOM). This is a domestic route within India, so no visa is required. Use the live search above to compare today's cheapest MAA–IXU fare across every airline, OTA and travel agent in one place.
Last reviewed June 2026 by the FlightGPT flights desk · route facts cross-checked against DGCA and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) · fares are live — verify the final price in search before booking.
Looking for cheap flights from Chennai to Aurangabad? FlightGPT compares live MAA to IXU fares across every connected source — Indian carriers, Gulf hubs, OTAs and trusted travel agents — and shows the cheapest options side by side. Whether you want a Chennai to Aurangabad non-stop tomorrow, a last-minute weekend deal or the lowest price three months out, every active Chennai-Aurangabad fare is one search away.
The neatest routing for MAA–IXU is Chennai → Hyderabad (≈ 1h 10m) then Hyderabad → Aurangabad (≈ 1h 20m), with IndiGo the dominant carrier on both legs. Total including a 60–90 minute layover comes to ≈ 3h 40m–4h 30m. The Mumbai alternative (MAA → BOM ≈ 1h 50m, then BOM → IXU ≈ 1h 15m) can be 30–45 minutes longer due to BOM congestion but sometimes has better fare combinations. If both legs are on the same IndiGo booking, bags are usually through-checked; mixing carriers requires bag reclaim and re-check at the transit city.
Combined round-trip economy fares from Chennai to Aurangabad typically range from ₹6,500 to ₹12,000 in June 2026 when booked 4–6 weeks in advance. Direct searches on IndiGo's app frequently show the cheapest combined options for the HYD transit. September (post-Ganesh Chaturthi lull) and February–March are the softest booking periods. During Aurangabad's Ellora Festival (usually February) and Ajanta/Ellora Tourism Festival, accommodation and flight demand spikes so book early. Fares above ₹15,000 round-trip are common with less than 2 weeks to departure on this thin-frequency route.
Aurangabad (now officially Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) is best known as the base for visiting the Ajanta Caves (106 km, UNESCO) and Ellora Caves (29 km, UNESCO). Ajanta's 30 rock-cut Buddhist monasteries and prayer halls date from the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE and are famous for their detailed frescoes. Ellora's 34 caves span Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions, with the monolithic Kailasa temple (Cave 16) being the standout. The best visiting window is October–March; caves are closed on Mondays and during the public holidays of each faith group's main festival.
Chennai International Airport (MAA) domestic operations move through Terminal 1, which handles IndiGo, Air India domestic, SpiceJet, and other LCCs. It is connected to the Chennai Metro (Airport station on the Green Line), making city-to-airport access easy from southern and central Chennai. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport (IXU) is a medium-sized facility ≈ 10 km from the old city centre. It was renamed from Aurangabad Airport in 2023 and has expanded its apron to handle more narrow-body traffic. Pre-paid taxis and MSRTC buses serve the airport forecourt; city metered cabs are also available.
IndiGo's "Super Saver" domestic fare includes only a 7 kg cabin bag; "Saver Plus" and above include 15 kg checked. Air India domestic economy includes 15 kg checked as standard. If you plan to carry handicrafts or marble items purchased near the Ellora Caves — a popular souvenir — pre-pay extra baggage online (≈ ₹350–500/kg) to avoid the walk-up surcharge at check-in. Both MAA and IXU enforce a 7 kg cabin bag limit at the gate; overweight carry-ons are charged at the desk. Fragile stone carvings are best wrapped and declared at check-in as fragile items for special handling stickers.
Chennai–Aurangabad is a fully domestic India sector — no visa or passport is required. Government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, driving licence, or passport) must be presented at the check-in counter and security checkpoint. DigiYatra biometric boarding is available at MAA for enrolled passengers on IndiGo and Air India; IXU may require a physical or mobile boarding pass. It is good practice to download your boarding pass to your phone or print it the evening before, especially on early-morning departures where airport counters can be crowded.
October to March is the best time to visit Aurangabad and the surrounding cave complexes — temperatures hover between 12°C and 30°C, making outdoor sightseeing pleasant. April–June brings extreme heat (35–43°C) and the caves themselves are fine but the drive to Ajanta (106 km) is tiring in the heat. Monsoon (June–September) is lush but some roads to Ajanta can be slow. The Bibi Ka Maqbara (a 17th-century Taj Mahal replica), the 12 Jyotirlinga pilgrimage at Grishneshwar temple (near Ellora), and Daulatabad Fort are must-sees within the city catchment. Auto-rickshaws and MSRTC buses connect the main sites.
No non-stop flights operate on this route as of June 2026. The best 1-stop option routes through Hyderabad (HYD) with IndiGo, giving a total journey of ≈ 4h–4h 30m including layover.
Via Hyderabad the total journey is approximately 4h–4h 30m (Chennai→HYD ≈ 1h 10m + layover ≈ 60–90m + HYD→IXU ≈ 1h 20m). Via Mumbai it can stretch to 5h 30m due to longer layovers.
IndiGo is the most common carrier for both the MAA–HYD and HYD–IXU legs. Air India operates on the MAA–BOM–IXU routing. Akasa Air covers MAA–BOM as an option for the first leg.
Round-trip economy fares typically range from ₹6,500 to ₹12,000 when booked 4–6 weeks ahead in June 2026. Prices exceed ₹15,000 with less than 2 weeks to departure.
Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) is the gateway to the Ajanta Caves (106 km, UNESCO) and Ellora Caves (29 km, UNESCO), plus Bibi Ka Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort, and the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple.
October to March is ideal — pleasant temperatures of 12°C–30°C and all caves are open. The Ajanta–Ellora Festival (typically February) is a good time for cultural events; book flights and hotels early for that period.
Chennai to Aurangabad prices swing with demand, season and lead time more than with any single airline. The reliable lever is comparison: pull every MAA–IXU fare at once and shift your date by a day or two. Mid-week and red-eye departures on IndiGo, Air India (via HYD or BOM) are usually where the cheapest seats sit.
For a same-week Chennai–Aurangabad trip, the trick is to check all carriers at once rather than one app at a time. FlightGPT's live MAA-IXU search does exactly that — red-eye and early-morning departures often carry the lowest last-minute prices. Enter your date above to compare instantly.
There is currently no non-stop service between Chennai and Aurangabad — itineraries connect via a hub, with a typical journey of ≈ 4h–6h total (1-stop via Hyderabad or Mumbai). Comparing hubs side by side often saves 15-30 percent. FlightGPT lets you filter by "Direct only" or compare both side by side — useful when you want the cheapest Chennai Aurangabad ticket but are open to a layover.
On Chennai to Aurangabad, the headline price and the price you actually pay can differ once baggage and seat selection are added. That's why FlightGPT compares fully-bundled Chennai Aurangabad fares across IndiGo, Air India (via HYD or BOM) — the cheapest all-in option, not the lowest sticker that balloons at checkout.