Guwahati, Feb 22: Commercial operations commenced this evening at the new terminal of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, raising its annual passenger handling capacity to 13.1 million and reinforcing Guwahati’s status as the principal aviation gateway to India’s strategic North-East and its growing links with South and Southeast Asia.
The transition followed a phased, operations-led rollout, including live trials of check-in systems, baggage handling, security screening and aircraft turnaround processes prior to full-scale activation. The terminal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 20, 2025.
The launch event was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), India’s largest private airport operator. A ceremonial boarding pass was presented to the first departing passenger, while an Akasa Air flight from Mumbai marked the first arrival at the new facility.
A traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and cultural performances were held at the arrivals forecourt, featuring artisan communities, tea garden workers, frontline staff and CISF personnel — blending Assam’s cultural identity with its expanding infrastructure footprint.
Chief Minister Sarma thanked Gautam Adani for fulfilling the ₹50,000 crore investment commitment announced during Advantage Assam 2.0.
“With the operationalisation of this new terminal, Assam’s tourism will receive a major boost. It will be a gamechanger. The culture of Assam has been respected in its design, and as Assamese, we are proud of it,” he said.
Jeet Adani described the expansion as a milestone aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision for future-ready infrastructure and Assam’s ambition to emerge as the economic engine of the North-East.
“This is more than a commercial achievement — it belongs to the people of Assam and the North-East whose collective effort made it possible,” he said.
Guwahati has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing non-metro airports, with passenger throughput crossing nine million in recent years. Ranked among the country’s top 10–12 busiest airports by volume, the new 13.1 million capacity provides significant headroom for additional routes, increased flight frequencies and expansion of international operations.
The airport currently connects 21 domestic destinations and three international routes — Bangkok, Paro and Singapore — handling over 130 aircraft movements daily. The expanded infrastructure is expected to further strengthen Guwahati’s role as a regional aviation hub linking the North-East with mainland India and Southeast Asia.
System validation exercises included airline coordination, ground handling, emergency preparedness and digital integration. Digi Yatra-enabled processing, integrated wayfinding and centralised communication systems are operational, with retail and food outlets being introduced in phases.
Designed by internationally acclaimed Indian architect Nuru Karim, the terminal draws inspiration from Assam’s kopou phool (foxtail orchid) and incorporates more than 140 metric tonnes of bamboo. Architectural references to Assam’s bholuka bamboo craftsmanship and bamboo-based structural traditions of the Apatani community in Arunachal Pradesh reflect the wider cultural tapestry of the North-East.
A sweeping vaulted roofline enhances spatial continuity and natural light, while an amphitheatre-style arrivals forecourt introduces travellers to the region’s art and performance traditions.
The design has already received the International Architecture Award 2025 for successfully integrating regional identity with contemporary airport infrastructure.
The airport is operated by AAHL through its subsidiary Guwahati International Airport Limited (GIAL). The group also manages airports in Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Mangaluru.
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