Travellers to and from Manipur have struggled for months with soaring fares and shrinking seat capacity after several carriers trimmed schedules to the conflict-hit state. On 6 November 2025 the Ministry of Civil Aviation approved two additional daily services—one Imphal-Guwahati rotation and one Imphal-Kolkata rotation—while Air India Express pledged to cap one-way Imphal-Guwahati tickets at ₹6,000.
The decision follows an urgent appeal from Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey and state legislators, who argued that unreliable road links and the absence of rail connectivity were isolating the North-East state from the rest of India and hurting local business. According to industry data, average one-way fares on the Imphal–Guwahati sector had touched ₹11,000 in late October, nearly triple the pre-crisis norm, forcing companies to cancel trips and driving up logistics costs.
![Centre Adds Two Daily Flights and Caps Fares to Ease Manipur’s Air Connectivity Crisis]()
Additional flights will be operated by a mix of Air India Express and a yet-to-be-named low-cost carrier using Airbus A320-family aircraft. The Civil Aviation Ministry has also asked the Airports Authority of India to fast-track apron expansion at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport so that more early-morning and late-evening slots can be offered during the winter schedule.
For corporate mobility managers the move brings immediate cost relief and restores day-trip options between Manipur and larger metros. However, analysts caution that a fare cap is a short-term tool; sustainable connectivity will depend on restoring traveler confidence and ensuring predictable security conditions in the region. Companies with expatriate or project staff in Manipur should revise their travel-approval workflows to take advantage of the new capped fares and monitor slot filings for the promised Imphal-Kolkata service, expected to commence by mid-December.
The decision follows an urgent appeal from Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey and state legislators, who argued that unreliable road links and the absence of rail connectivity were isolating the North-East state from the rest of India and hurting local business. According to industry data, average one-way fares on the Imphal–Guwahati sector had touched ₹11,000 in late October, nearly triple the pre-crisis norm, forcing companies to cancel trips and driving up logistics costs.
Additional flights will be operated by a mix of Air India Express and a yet-to-be-named low-cost carrier using Airbus A320-family aircraft. The Civil Aviation Ministry has also asked the Airports Authority of India to fast-track apron expansion at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport so that more early-morning and late-evening slots can be offered during the winter schedule.
For corporate mobility managers the move brings immediate cost relief and restores day-trip options between Manipur and larger metros. However, analysts caution that a fare cap is a short-term tool; sustainable connectivity will depend on restoring traveler confidence and ensuring predictable security conditions in the region. Companies with expatriate or project staff in Manipur should revise their travel-approval workflows to take advantage of the new capped fares and monitor slot filings for the promised Imphal-Kolkata service, expected to commence by mid-December.
