The aviation landscape of Northeast India received a game-changing upgrade as Guwahati’s Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport unveiled its new terminal for commercial use on Sunday evening. Now equipped to manage 13.1 million passengers annually, the airport cements Guwahati’s status as the primary aerial bridge to South and Southeast Asia from India’s strategic Northeast.
A phased activation ensured reliability, with comprehensive live simulations for check-in processes, luggage management, security protocols, and runway activities preceding the launch. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had officially opened the terminal on December 20, 2023, heralding a new era of connectivity.
Key dignitaries at the event included Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Jeet Adani from Adani Airport Holdings. Milestones featured the first symbolic boarding pass and Akasa Air’s arrival from Mumbai. The program blended tradition with modernity through lamp-lighting rituals and cultural shows involving craftsmen, tea estate laborers, airport teams, and CISF troops.
Sarma lauded Gautam Adani’s delivery on the Rs 50,000 crore commitment from ‘Advantage Assam 2.0’, forecasting booming tourism and transformative impacts. Adani highlighted the initiative’s responsiveness to rising demands and visionary growth for Assam and the Northeast.
Among non-metro airports, Guwahati’s growth trajectory stands out, crossing 9 million annual passengers and entering India’s elite 10-12 busiest list. The boost to 13.1 million capacity promises expanded schedules and international reach, linking 21 domestic cities and Bangkok, Paro, Singapore with 130 daily operations.
Celebrated architect Nuru Karim’s design evokes Assam’s state flower, the Kopou Phool, while integrating over 140 tons of bamboo that showcases local artistry and Arunachal’s Apatani heritage. Operated by Adani’s subsidiary Guwahati International Airport Limited, it bolsters AAHL’s network spanning Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Mangaluru.