Flight services from the newly opened Terminal 2 of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport began on Wednesday, with Air India and Air India Express starting their operations from the new facility. Air India’s flight AI 879 from Delhi became the first to arrive at Terminal 2. The same aircraft later departed for Delhi as AI 880, marking the airline’s first departure from the terminal. Air India Express followed with its first arrival, flight IX 1517 from Kolkata, which then continued to Imphal.
Air India operates two return flights daily between Delhi and Guwahati. Air India Express has a wider network from Guwahati, connecting the city to nine destinations with 17 daily flights. Airport officials said the new terminal is expected to improve passenger flow and provide better facilities.The opening day also saw efforts to highlight Assam’s culture. Narikolor laru, a traditional Assamese sweet, was served to passengers onboard the first Air India flight. The first passenger to check in at Terminal 2 was welcomed with a gamusa, a symbol of Assamese respect and tradition.
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.
