In a significant boost to regional air connectivity and relief to passengers troubled by soaring ticket prices, Air India Express has rolled out a new daily evening flight on the Imphal–Guwahati–Delhi route from December 1 — a move the airline had promised in early November.
The Tata-owned carrier, a subsidiary of Air India, introduced the service following intense public discourse over reduced flights and steep airfares on the Imphal–Guwahati sector. Reports highlighting these concerns had dominated discussions across Manipur, prompting calls for government intervention.
Air India Express was the only airline to respond decisively, announcing two additional flights from Imphal and committing to keep airfares for the Imphal–Guwahati route capped at ₹6,000. Although the cap’s enforcement is still unclear, fares on this route have already witnessed a substantial decline.
In early November, tickets between Imphal and Guwahati cost nearly ₹13,000. Now, throughout December, the lowest fares for Air India Express’s evening flight remain well under ₹6,000. On December 5, the price dipped to ₹4,999, according to checks made around 6:50 pm.
Airport authorities have lauded the initiative. The Imphal International Airport, on its official Facebook page, described the launch of the daily evening service as a “great start to the month at Imphal Airport.”
The new flight, reintroduced on the first day of December 2025, is expected to significantly enhance travel convenience, widen connectivity, and ease travel budgets for thousands of passengers.
Imphal Airport, established in the mid-1960s and formally declared an international aerodrome in 2013, handles aircraft such as the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 series. Its 2,746-metre runway has supported growing regional traffic, including the first international flight from Mandalay operated by Golden Myanmar Airlines in November 2013.
With the latest addition by Air India Express, air travel in the region appears set for a more affordable and passenger-friendly phase.
