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Air India Shifts Guwahati Hub to New Orchid-Inspired Terminal 2

Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express will transition all their Guwahati operations to the newly inaugurated Terminal 2 at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport starting March 16. The move will see the airlines operate 38 daily flights from the new terminal, with specific inaugural flights identified from Delhi and Kolkata. The terminal's design, inspired by Assam's foxtail orchid and using over 140 metric tonnes of bamboo, recently won the International Architecture Award 2025. This expansion is expected to enhance Guwahati's role as a key aviation hub connecting Northeast India with the mainland and Southeast Asia.

Key Points: Air India Moves Guwahati Flights to New Terminal 2

  • 38 daily flights from new terminal
  • Transition effective March 16
  • First flights are AI879 & IX1517
  • Terminal inspired by Assam's orchid & bamboo
  • Aims to strengthen NE regional hub
2 min read

Air India and Air India Express to shift Guwahati operations to new Terminal 2

Air India & Air India Express shift all Guwahati operations to new Terminal 2 from March 16, operating 38 daily flights from the award-winning facility.

"Air India and Air India Express will be operating all their flights to and from the newly inaugurated Terminal 2 - Airline Release"

New Delhi, March 14

Air India and Air India Express will move all flight operations at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati from Terminal 1 to the newly inaugurated Terminal 2, effective from March 16. The transition will see the two airlines operate 38 daily flights from the new terminal.

As per the airline release, it is stated that, "Air India and Air India Express will be operating all their flights to and from the newly inaugurated Terminal 2 of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati from 16 March."

"The first Air India flight to land at the new terminal will be AI879 from Delhi, and the return flight AI880 will be Air India's first departure from T2 Guwahati Airport to Delhi. Air India Express flight IX1517 from Kolkata will be its first flight to touch down at the new terminal, and the same flight's onward journey to Imphal will be Air India Express's first flight to depart from T2, Guwahati Airport," the release said.

Air India currently operates two daily return flights between Delhi and Guwahati, while Air India Express connects Guwahati with 17 daily flights to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, and Kolkata.

The release further mentions that, "The ground teams of Air India and Air India Express will extend all support and assistance to the guests at the new terminal."

The LGBIA airport connects 21 domestic destinations and three international routes, including Bangkok, Paro and Singapore and currently handles more than 130 aircraft traffic movements (ATMs) daily. The additional capacity is expected to strengthen Guwahati's role as a regional hub linking the North-East with mainland India and Southeast Asia.

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 (MT) of bamboo. Architectural references to Assam's bholuka bamboo craftsmanship and the bamboo-based structural traditions associated with the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh reflect the wider cultural fabric of the North-East.

The design received the International Architecture Award 2025 for integrating regional identity with contemporary infrastructure. The airport is operated by AAHL through its subsidiary Guwahati International Airport Limited (GIAL). AAHL also manages airports in Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Mangaluru.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As someone who travels to Guwahati often for work, I'm looking forward to the new facilities. The old terminal was quite cramped. Fingers crossed the ground support teams are well-prepared to assist on the first day. A much-needed upgrade!
R
Rohit P
Great to see infrastructure development in the North-East. Making Guwahati a regional hub is a smart move. However, I hope the focus is also on maintaining the new terminal properly and ensuring it doesn't become overcrowded in a few years. Planning is key.
S
Sarah B
The architectural award is well-deserved! Integrating local culture and materials like bamboo into modern design is brilliant. It's more than just an airport; it's a statement about Assam's identity. Can't wait to see it on my next trip.
V
Vikram M
Connecting to 17 cities daily from Guwahati is impressive. This will be a big help for students and professionals from the North-East who have to travel to other states. Hope the ticket prices remain reasonable with this expansion.
M
Michael C
While the new terminal sounds amazing, I hope the operational shift is communicated clearly to all passengers. Last-minute gate changes and confusion can be a nightmare. Air India, please ensure your website and app have real-time updates!
A
Ananya R

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