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-stops; several one-stop itineraries daily via Hyderabad or Mumbai.. 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 July 2026 by the FlightGPT flights desk · route facts cross-checked against DGCA and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) · how we collect fares · editorial policy · fact-checking · 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, 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.
| Airline | Cabin bag | Checked (economy) | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndiGo | 7 kg | 15 kg | Largest network; strong on-time record |
| Air India | 7 kg | 15-25 kg | Full-service; meals included |
Standard domestic economy allowance; premium fares and elite tiers may include more. Confirm against your fare — each airline's baggage page is linked above.
There is no non-stop between Chennai and Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar). The route is flown as a one-stop connection, most commonly via Hyderabad (HYD) or Mumbai (BOM), on IndiGo (6E) and Air India (AI). IndiGo carries the bulk of traffic into Aurangabad and gives you the widest choice of connection times.
Go First and Jet Airways no longer operate, and Vistara has merged into Air India, so book under IndiGo or Air India. Choose your hub by which gives the shorter, more reliable layover on your dates rather than by habit.
The great-circle distance is about 1,000 km, but because you connect through a hub, total journey time runs 4 to 6 hours depending on the layover. Both cities are on IST, so there is no time change to track. A via-Hyderabad routing is often the most direct geographically; via Mumbai can offer better-timed connections. Always check the total elapsed time, not just the flight legs — a cheap fare with a 4-hour layover can cost you half a day.
Aurangabad is primarily a heritage-tourism destination — the gateway to the Ajanta and Ellora caves — so demand peaks in the cooler, drier months. Book 3-5 weeks ahead for the best balance of price and connection quality.
| Period | Demand | Booking advice |
|---|---|---|
| Oct-Feb (peak season) | High | Book 4-6 weeks ahead |
| Mar-May (hot) | Low-moderate | Good value, 2-3 weeks out |
| Jun-Sep (monsoon) | Low | Cheapest, watch for delays |
Because this is a connecting route, the "best" departure is the one that pairs an early Chennai leg with a same-morning onward flight, getting you to Aurangabad by early afternoon — ideal for starting the caves circuit the next day. Late-morning departures risk a long mid-day layover at the hub. Avoid the last connection of the day, where a delay on the first leg can leave you stranded overnight at Hyderabad or Mumbai.
Business travellers: pick the shortest reliable layover and book through-ticketed; via Hyderabad is often the quickest pairing.
Families and heritage tourists: a mid-morning arrival in Aurangabad leaves the afternoon to settle in before visiting Ellora (about 30 minutes away) or Ajanta (about 45 minutes-1 hour). Choose a comfortable layover over the cheapest tight one.
Students and budget flyers: the lowest fares are usually monsoon-season, mid-week, one-stop tickets booked 3-4 weeks out — just accept a longer layover.
At Chennai (MAA), domestic flights use Terminal 1 (the newer domestic terminal). At the hub — Hyderabad's single integrated terminal or Mumbai's T1/T2 — follow the transfer signage for your onward flight.
Aurangabad (IXU), officially Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport, is a single-terminal airport serving IndiGo, Air India and others. It is the closest airport to the UNESCO-listed Ajanta and Ellora caves, roughly 10 km from the city. A runway-extension and upgrade project is under way to support larger aircraft.
In Chennai, Terminal 1 is well served by app cabs, the metro and city buses; budget 45-75 minutes from the centre in traffic. Aurangabad airport is about 10 km from the city, roughly 20-30 minutes by taxi or app cab. Most heritage and business hotels can arrange a pickup. For the caves, hire a car-and-driver for the day from the city rather than relying on airport taxis, as Ajanta in particular is a longer run.
Domestic economy typically allows 15 kg check-in and 7 kg cabin, varying by airline and fare. On a single through-ticket your bags are checked all the way to Aurangabad; on separate tickets you must collect and re-check at the hub, so build in time. See IndiGo baggage for current limits, and pre-purchase any excess online to avoid steep airport rates.
The best window to visit Aurangabad and the caves is October to February, with comfortable days for sightseeing. March-May is very hot inland, so start early and carry water. The monsoon (June-September) makes the Ajanta gorge lush but can bring delays at both ends. In Chennai, the northeast monsoon (October-December) occasionally disrupts departures, so keep your hub layover generous in those months.
Since every Chennai-Aurangabad option is a connection, the layover — not the headline fare — is what makes or breaks the trip. A ₹500 saving with a 5-hour wait at Hyderabad is rarely worth it. Use the FlightGPT search to compare total elapsed time and book the whole journey on one ticket so the airline is responsible for your connection. Aim to land in Aurangabad by early afternoon to make the most of the caves circuit the next morning.
No. There are no non-stops. The route is flown as a one-stop connection, most commonly via Hyderabad or Mumbai on IndiGo or Air India.
Total time runs about 4 to 6 hours depending on the layover. Both cities are on IST, so there is no time change to factor in.
Via Hyderabad is often the most direct geographically; via Mumbai can offer better-timed connections. Compare the total elapsed time for your dates.
IndiGo and Air India, both via a hub. Go First and Jet Airways are defunct, and Vistara has merged into Air India.
Domestic flights, including the first leg to your hub, depart from Chennai's Terminal 1.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport (IXU), a single-terminal airport about 10 km from the city — the closest airport to the Ajanta and Ellora caves.
Book the whole journey on a single ticket where possible. Bags are checked through and the airline protects your connection if the first leg is delayed.
Usually 15 kg check-in and 7 kg cabin in domestic economy, varying by airline and fare. Confirm on your ticket and pre-buy any excess online.
Yes. On a single ticket you can usually check in for both legs at once, 24-48 hours before departure, on the airline's app or site.
Under DGCA rules, if the airline cancels you are entitled to a full refund or a free alternative, regardless of fare type.
June-September rain can cause delays at both ends, and Chennai's northeast monsoon (Oct-Dec) may disrupt departures. Keep layovers generous in these months.
Yes. Infants under two travel on an adult's lap at a reduced fare on each leg. Carry the child's ID and add the infant when booking.
Pet carriage is restrictive and varies by airline; IndiGo does not carry pets on most domestic flights. Confirm directly with the airline well in advance.
Ellora is about 30 minutes from Aurangabad and Ajanta roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Hire a car-and-driver from the city for a full caves day.
FlightGPT is a natural-language flight search: ask the way you'd ask a friend, and it compares live MAA–IXU fares across every airline, OTA and travel agent. Try one:
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.