Air India and Air India Express have started operations from the newly opened Terminal 2 at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, marking an important step in improving air connectivity in the region.The first Air India flight to arrive at the new terminal was AI 879 from Delhi. The same aircraft later departed as AI 880, becoming the airline’s first outbound flight from Terminal 2. Soon after, Air India Express also began its services from the new terminal with flight IX 1517 arriving from Kolkata, which then continued its journey to Imphal.
At present, Air India operates two daily return flights between Delhi and Guwahati. Air India Express, on the other hand, connects Guwahati to nine cities with a total of 17 daily flights. Officials said the shift to the new terminal is expected to improve passenger handling and overall travel experience.The occasion was also marked with a touch of local culture. Passengers on the first Air India flight were served traditional Assamese sweet, narikolor laru, onboard. The first passenger to check in at Terminal 2 was welcomed with a gamusa, a traditional Assamese cloth, as a mark of respect and hospitality.
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.