Air India and Air India Express on Wednesday began flight operations from the newly inaugurated Terminal 2 of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, marking a key development in Assam’s aviation infrastructure. The first Air India aircraft to land at the new terminal was flight AI 879 from Delhi. It later operated the return journey as AI 880, becoming the airline’s first departure from Terminal 2. Air India Express also launched its services from the terminal with flight IX 1517 arriving from Kolkata and continuing onward to Imphal.
Air India currently runs two daily return flights on the Delhi–Guwahati route. Air India Express connects Guwahati with nine cities, operating 17 flights every day. Officials said the move to Terminal 2 is expected to ease passenger movement and improve overall airport operations. The launch was marked by simple cultural gestures reflecting Assam’s identity. Passengers on the inaugural Air India flight were served narikolor laru, a traditional Assamese sweet. The first check-in passenger at the new terminal was welcomed with a gamusa, highlighting local customs.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma set social media abuzz after sharing the video of Air India’s inaugural flight landing at the newly built Terminal 2 of LGBI airport.
Sharing the video on X, the Chief Minister said, “Air India’s inaugural flight landed at the new terminal of LGBI Airport, where the hospitality reflected Assam’s culture, language, and the taste of traditional Narikolor Laru.”
Using the hashtag #AwesomeAssam, Sarma invited travellers to discover the state’s diverse tourism offerings. “Plan a holiday, explore lush forests, rich flora and fauna, tea gardens, and experience the vibrant culture and cuisine of #AwesomeAssam,” he wrote.
