Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has shared a video of Air India’s inaugural flight landing at the newly built Terminal 2 of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi (LGBI) International Airport, drawing attention on social media and highlighting a key development in the state’s aviation infrastructure.Posting the video on X, the Chief Minister said the moment reflected Assam’s identity and hospitality. He noted that the arrival of the flight was marked by elements of local culture, including language and traditional food. “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,” Sarma wrote.The development comes as Air India and Air India Express formally began operations from Terminal 2, which was recently opened to enhance passenger capacity and improve travel experience at the Guwahati airport. Officials said the new terminal is expected to ease congestion and support the growing number of flyers in the region.
The first Air India flight to arrive at Terminal 2 was AI 879 from Delhi, which landed on March 16. The same aircraft later departed as AI 880 to Delhi, marking the airline’s first outbound service from the new terminal. With this, Air India shifted its operations to Terminal 2 from the same date.Air India currently operates two daily return flights between Delhi and Guwahati. Alongside this, Air India Express has also started using the new terminal for its services. The airline connects Guwahati with nine cities and operates a total of 17 daily flights, offering wider connectivity across the country.The inaugural operations were marked by simple cultural gestures aimed at showcasing Assam’s traditions. Passengers travelling on the first Air India flight were served narikolor laru, a traditional Assamese sweet made from coconut. The first passenger to check in at Terminal 2 was also welcomed with a gamusa, a symbolic Assamese cloth, as a mark of respect.
In his post, Sarma also invited tourists to visit Assam, highlighting its natural and cultural attractions. Using the hashtag #AwesomeAssam, he encouraged people to explore the state’s forests, tea gardens, wildlife, and traditional cuisine. “Plan a holiday, explore lush forests, rich flora and fauna, tea gardens, and experience the vibrant culture and cuisine of #AwesomeAssam,” he wrote.
