Rising Demand for Madurai Jasmine Boosts Air Cargo at Local Airports
Madurai: The growing popularity of Madurai jasmine among the Indian communities in Southeast Asia, the UK, US, and Canada is significantly increasing air cargo traffic at Madurai and Trichy airports. Exporters have noted that the schedule of flights is now influencing how and where their shipments are transported.
Cargo transported from Madurai airport surged by 27%, rising from 3,494 tonnes in 2024-25 to 4,444 tonnes in 2025-26. P. Muthukumar, the airport director, highlighted that perishable goods, such as fruits, vegetables, and jasmine flowers, were key contributors to this rise.
N. Jegatheesan, a prominent flower exporter, shared that he ships around 15 tonnes of flowers weekly to 15 different countries, noting a recent spike in demand. “We now export to the US twice a week through Madurai via Delhi and three times a week to Canada. For Singapore, Malaysia, and other nearby regions, we send shipments daily, mainly via Trichy,” he explained.
Exporters mentioned that roughly 15% of their products are sent as loose cut flowers, while most are prepared as garlands before shipping. Flowers arrive at packing facilities in Madurai, Usilampatti, and Nilakottai around 7:30 AM, where workers create garlands based on international buyer specifications before packing them for air cargo.
“Temples in the US request two-foot garlands, while those in Canada prefer 2.5-foot versions. The whole process takes about six to eight hours. If night-time international flights were offered, we could ship garlands directly from Madurai to Singapore and Malaysia instead of using Trichy. Shipments from Madurai could reach international markets by 7 AM to 8 AM the following day. Given the perishability of jasmine, night services could help maintain freshness and minimize storage time,” Jegatheesan added.
Despite the feasibility of night operations at Madurai airport, exporters pointed out that the lack of late-night international flights hinders direct cargo movements. While demand from the US, Canada, and Europe is primarily managed through Madurai, shipments to the UAE and Southeast Asia are often routed through Trichy or airports in Kerala.
