Guwahati: The new state-of-the-art terminal at Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport (LGBIA) started commercial operations on Sunday evening, 2 months after its inauguration by PM Narendra Modi.The launch has increased the airport’s annual passenger handling capacity to 13.1 million, further strengthening Guwahati’s role as the main aviation gateway to the strategic northeast region and its links to south and south-east Asia.
Guwahati is among India’s fastest-growing non-metro airports, with steady traffic growth over the last decade, officials said. Passenger volumes crossed 7.1 million per annum in recent years, placing the airport among the country’s 10 to 12 busiest by passenger traffic. The expanded 13.1 million capacity is expected to support new routes, increased flight frequencies, and growth in international connectivity.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Jeet Adani, director of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), were present for the start of operations. The occasion included a ceremonial boarding pass issued to the first departing passenger, along with the arrival of an Akasa Air flight from Mumbai at the new terminal.“I express my gratitude and we are thankful to Gautam Adani for keeping his commitment of investing Rs 50,000 crore made during Advantage Assam 2.0 last year. I believe with the operationalisation of this new terminal, Assam’s tourism will get a boost. It will be a gamechanger for Assam. The culture of Assam was respected during the construction of this new airport terminal, and as Assamese, we are proud of it,” Sarma said.A lamp-lighting ceremony and cultural programmes were organised in the arrivals forecourt.Jeet Adani said the expansion aligns with rising demand and the region’s long-term growth. “Today is more than a commercial milestone. It is a proud moment for the people of Assam and the northeast. It resonates with the PM’s vision for future-ready infrastructure and with CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s mission to position Assam as the economic engine of the region,” he added.
