Assam's Domestic Airport Network: A Comprehensive Overview

Assam has a total of nine airports, including one international airport, six domestic airports, and two military airports. The domestic airports in Assam are located in Dibrugarh, Silchar, Jorhat, Dhubri (Rupsi Airport), Tezpur, and North Lakhimpur (Lilabari Airport). These airports play a crucial role in enhancing regional connectivity and promoting economic growth in the region.

Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati

Assam, located in the northeastern part of India, has a total of 9 airports, including 1 international airport, 6 domestic airports, and 2 military airports. The state's primary airport is Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, also known as Guwahati Airport (IATA: GAU, ICAO: VEGT). It is the biggest airport in the state and the 12th busiest airport in India. The airport is named after Gopinath Bordoloi, a freedom fighter and the first Chief Minister of Assam after India's independence.

Established in 1958, the airport has undergone numerous expansions and renovations to facilitate the region's socio-economic development, growth, connectivity, and tourism. It is located in Borjhar, 26 km from Dispur, the capital city of Assam, and 28 km from Guwahati. The airport is managed by the Airports Authority of India and serves as an Indian Air Force base. It is also an eco-friendly airport with various measures in place to ensure proper waste disposal and sustainability.

Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport has a 3,110-metre-long runway capable of handling widebody aircraft like the Boeing 787. It is equipped with advanced facilities, such as a CAT-III Instrument Landing System, Doppler Very High Frequency (DVOR)/Distance Measuring Equipment, and PAPI lights, enabling flight operations during unfavourable weather conditions and at night. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 serving domestic flights and the upcoming Terminal 2 catering to both domestic and international travellers. Terminal 1 has three levels, with the ground floor for arrivals, the mezzanine floor for boarding, and the third floor for departures. It can handle 20,000 passengers during peak hours and 6 million passengers annually.

The airport offers a range of facilities and services to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience for passengers and visitors. These include the 'Pranaam Meet and Greet Service', which provides customised travel packages and assistance to meet various traveller requirements. Other amenities include baggage handling systems, conveyor belts, check-in kiosks, immigration counters, free WiFi, lounges, retail stores, lost and found service, medical facilities, and duty-free shopping.

To accommodate the increasing passenger traffic, a new terminal building is under construction as of February 2024 and is scheduled to be completed by July 2024. The new terminal will significantly enhance the airport's capacity, handling 4,300 domestic and 200 international passengers during peak hours and about 10 million passengers annually. It will feature a range of modern amenities, including additional check-in counters, self-check-in kiosks, escalators, baggage claim counters, and more.

Dibrugarh Airport, Dibrugarh

Dibrugarh Airport is a domestic airport serving the city of Dibrugarh in Assam, India. It is located at Mohanbari, about 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) east of the city centre. The airport was established in the early 1950s to distribute the large number of passengers catered to by the Guwahati airport.

The airport covers an area of 386 acres and has two aerobridges linked to the terminal. The runway is capable of handling mid-sized aircraft, including the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737. A new terminal building was opened in February 2009, which can accommodate 500 passengers at a time.

Dibrugarh Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Northeast India, after Guwahati, Agartala, and Imphal. It is ranked 42nd busiest in India. The airport features a 'May I help you' desk, braille engravings in lifts, and ramps to assist passengers with disabilities.

The airport is accessible by car, with the Airport Taxi Services Association offering car rental services outside the arrival gate. However, pick-up points are limited, and passengers may need to take an auto outside the main gate to reach NH-37 and access local bus services. The nearest hotels are located in Dibrugarh city, about 18 kilometres away, as there is no accommodation near the airport.

Silchar Airport, Silchar

Silchar Airport in Silchar, Assam, is located 24-29 kilometres away from the city centre, in the foothills of the Barail or Barack mountain ranges. It is one of the busiest airports in Assam, and the fourth busiest in north-east India. The airport has been in operation since 1944, when it was built by the British as RAF Station Kumbhirgram during World War II. It is jointly operated by the Airports Authority of India and the Indian Air Force, and serves as a civil enclave airport.

The airport has one terminal for domestic flights, with five check-in and two security counters. The terminal has a capacity of 300 passengers, with 150 each at the arrival and departure sections. The terminal is spread across an area of 2586 square metres. The airport covers a land area of 36.70 acres and is situated at an elevation of 338 feet above sea level.

Silchar Airport offers flights to several major Indian cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Shillong. Airlines such as Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo, and Air India Regional operate regular flights to and from the airport. The airport also has baggage services, including escorts, trolleys, and wheelchairs for passengers who need assistance.

For transportation to and from the airport, the Silchar railway station is located 26 kilometres away, and the Assam State Tourist Corporation (ASTC) bus stand is approximately 25 kilometres away. The airport also has a variety of options for eating and shopping, including restaurants and shops selling local handicraft items and souvenirs.

Lilabari Airport, North Lakhimpur

Lilabari Airport, also known as North Lakhimpur Airport, is a domestic airport serving North Lakhimpur in Assam, India. It is located about 8 kilometres north of the city centre of Lilabari. The airport was inaugurated in 2003 by the then Union Civil Aviation Minister, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, after a four-year construction period. The project was initiated following lobbying by the local Member of Parliament, Dr Ranee Narah, from 1999 to 2003.

Lilabari Airport has a single terminal for domestic flights and is operated by the Airports Authority of India. The airport is equipped with a night landing facility, and the runway is being modified to accommodate larger aircraft. As of 2013, Lilabari Airport has been connected to Kolkata daily by an Air India Regional service. The airport serves as a gateway to North Lakhimpur and Arunachal Pradesh, connecting the region to cities like Kolkata, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Shillong.

The airport's address is 73PV+X6J, Chaboti, North Lakhimpur, Assam 787051. Airlines serving Lilabari Airport include Akasa Air, IndiGo, and Air India Express. Some of the most frequent flight routes from the airport include Mumbai to Delhi, Delhi to Mumbai, and Bangalore to Delhi.

Rupsi Airport, Dhubri

Assam, located in the northeastern part of India, has a total of 9 airports, including 1 international airport, 6 domestic airports, and 2 military airports. One of these domestic airports is the Rupsi Airport, located in Dhubri.

History

The Rupsi Airport was originally built by the British during World War II to serve as a base for supplying arms, manpower, and ammunition to the Allied forces. It was used by the United States Army Air Forces' Tenth Air Force in the China-Burma-India Theater. After the war, the airport was used by the regional airline Vayudoot in the 1980s, but services were discontinued after the airline's closure in 1984. The airport remained defunct until the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) began working to revive it in the 2010s.

Commercial Operations

Commercial operations at the airport commenced in 2021 under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN. The newly launched domestic airline, FlyBig, began operating flights to and from Guwahati and Kolkata. The airport has also been served by Alliance Air, which reinstated flights to Guwahati and Kolkata with a stop at Rupsi. However, as of June 2024, there are no active flights due to technical issues with FlyBig, which was the sole airline operating at the airport before it suspended operations in parts of Northeast India in November 2023. It is expected that operations will resume soon with the opening of a new Guwahati-based airline, Jettwings.

Infrastructure and Facilities

The Rupsi Airport covers an area of 447 acres (some sources state 337 acres) and is located about 8-17 kilometres from the city centre of Dhubri. It has a single terminal with a 3,500-square-meter (38,000 sq ft) terminal building, featuring 10 check-in counters. The airport has a paved runway designated 05/23, measuring 6,000 by 150 feet (1,829 m x 46 m). The runway is suitable for landing ATR-72 type aircraft, and the IAF is evaluating the possibility of extending it to enable the operation of fighter aircraft.

The airport offers various facilities for passengers, including baggage services, security arrangements, and assistance for visitors and those with reduced mobility. There are shops and stores offering a range of products, as well as food and beverage options. Duty-free shopping is also available.

Impact and Accessibility

The re-development of the Rupsi Airport is expected to boost the local economy of the Bodoland area and provide improved connectivity for air travellers in Dhubri and adjacent districts, as well as neighbouring states and parts of Bhutan. The airport is easily accessible by road and rail, with the Dhubri Bus Stand and Basbari Railway Station located nearby.

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