Airports in Assam

The companion of seven sisters, Assam; is surrounded by the maximum number of borders of different states. Across the various corners of the world, people who wish to experience thousands of miracles, to hear the poetry of the earth, to witness the simplicity of nature, plan a mandatory trip to the place of the Brahmaputra and one-horned Rhino. Air transportation is well-facilized in Assam, which acts as a cherry on the cake for travellers.

1. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati (GAU)

Named after Gopinath Bordoloi, the first chief minister of Assam after Independence, this airport in Assam is also known as Guwahati International Airport. It acts as the primary international airport of the North-Eastern States of India, located in Borjhar (near Guwahati). The 656 acres of the lavish airport is managed by the Airports Authority of India and serves as an Indian Air Force base. It provides international airways to Bangkok, Paro, Thailand, etc. by DrukAir and helicopter services to nearby places of visit.

The airport is fully equipped with information centres, bookstores, eateries, and aid to handicaps and children, free baggage trolleys, business centres, etc. Many flights such as IndiGo, GoAir, SpiceJet, AirIndia operate from here and connects all the major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, etc. Kamakhya and Navagraha Temples are the two prominent tourist's attraction near the airport. To mention an advantageous point, the distance between Guwahati railway station and airport is just 22 km, and one can easily get a cab or rickshaw from the airport.

2. Dibrugarh Airport (DIB)

Quoted as the easternmost airport of the country, the Dibrugarh Airport in Assam serves the upper part of Assam and eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh. It is located at Mohanbari, about 15 km North-East from Dibrugarh.  The 254 acres airport is civil and has a domestic intake of 500 passengers, 250 each for arrival and departure with two aerobridges and five remote parking bays. The basic connectivity of the flights taking off from this airport is to Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi by Air India and IndiGo only. The newly introduced Spicejet provides connectivity to Guwahati and Silchar from 3rd October 2017.

3. Jorhat Airport (JRH)

Peculiarly known as Rowriah Airport, this airport is located in 7 km Southwest of Jorhat in Assam. Prominently, it's the second major airport run by the Airports Authority of India after the Guwahati Airport. However, the operator share is also divided with Indian Air Force because certainly, it's a military as well as the civil airport which provides connectivity with Guwahati, Kolkata and Bangalore. Zoom Air serves for Kolkata with certain elementary services.

Primarily, Rowriah Airport was used as a transport base for launching aircraft that carry out airdrops in Naga Hills in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The proximity of the railway station and the airport is highly appreciable because 9 km of distance can be covered in 10 minutes by a cab or bus. 

4. Silchar Airport (IXS)

From the glimpses of the past, it can be stated that Kumbhirgram Airport was built by the Britishers during the Second World War as RAF in 1944, but later it was transferred to RIAF. Located in Silchar, this Assam Airport is known to be the fourth busiest airport of Northeastern side of India. In 2013-2014 it gained fame while handling 206,000 passengers. From technical advancement view, the Silchar airport is highly equipped with Instrument landing and Night landing system. It has its own precision approach path indicator for the runway lighting system.

In context with connectivity and flight departures, approximately 30 flights per week departing from there for Guwahati, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore. Recently, Spicejet started its Bombardier Dash aircraft from Silchar. The operating management rests on the shoulder of AAI and IAF.

Silchar is 26 km far from the airport which takes a maximum of 45 minutes ride by any cab or private car. The approximate fare is INR 200 per person for getting into the main city. The good news for tourists is Assam state transport corporation has started its daily bus services from city to airport at different timings of the day. 

5. Lilabari Airport, Lakhimpur (IXI)

This can be quoted as the controversial airport of Assam. After a lot of terrible campaigning by the members of the parliament, the bill was passed for its construction. It can be categorised into a public airport operated by AAI. The Lilabari Airport is located in Lakhimpur district for serving Arunachal Pradesh. Its connectivity is mainly with Guwahati and Kolkata by a 4-day in a week Alliance Air jet. The distance between the North Lakhimpur and airport is 6 km or 3.2 miles. Bus services and cabs can be fetched easily here.

6. Tezpur Airport (TEZ)

Salonibari airport located 10 km from the heart of Tezpur city is a public and military airport owned by AAI and operated by IAF. It was constructed during the world war 2 and since its inception has been the most active base for aircraft and wing rotaries. The 22-acre airport in Assam is connected to Guwahati and Kolkata.

The oozing culture of Assam, the appealing fragrance of tea leaves, the jovial nature of the breeze or the enchanting historical beauty of the seven sisters. The reason behind Assam's tourism is an untold secret hidden underneath the alluring tea gardens. These airways are making your task easier to visit this heavenly place called Assam!