Air India Ends Full-Service Flights at Imphal Airport
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

Air India Ends Full-Service Flights at Imphal Airport

Air India officially ceased its full-service operations at Imphal International Airport on 16 June 2025, marking the end of an era that spanned decades. The decision follows a strategic shift in route optimisation across the airline’s network. While the national carrier departs, its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, will gradually assume operations on routes previously served by the full-service airline, subject to market demand.

Officials clarified that this move is unrelated to recent security incidents or technical faults affecting airlines. Instead, it forms part of a broader restructuring aimed at aligning capacity with evolving passenger needs—especially in regional and non-metro markets like Imphal, where affordable fares are increasingly important.

Despite this change, the transition has not proceeded without disruption. The region recently saw a significant delay of 18 hours due to a technical issue on a Kolkata-bound flight, as well as cancellations on the Guwahati–Hyderabad route, which led to passenger unrest. In response, Air India Express provided accommodation and meals to impacted travellers, managing the disruptions responsibly.

Imphal International Airport bid farewell to the national carrier with a heartfelt message, calling Air India the “Big Brother” and expressing confidence that Air India Express, the “younger brother”, will uphold the legacy of service in the region. The airport’s social media post featured emotional imagery: staff visibly moved, watching the departure of an aircraft with deep nostalgia.

As Air India Express begins phased operations, the focus shifts to maintaining seamless connectivity for residents of Manipur. This handover symbolises not just a change in airline operations, but a broader transformation in how air travel evolves to meet present-day demands.


Air India officially ceased its full-service operations at Imphal International Airport on 16 June 2025, marking the end of an era that spanned decades. The decision follows a strategic shift in route optimisation across the airline’s network. While the national carrier departs, its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, will gradually assume operations on routes previously served by the full-service airline, subject to market demand.Officials clarified that this move is unrelated to recent security incidents or technical faults affecting airlines. Instead, it forms part of a broader restructuring aimed at aligning capacity with evolving passenger needs—especially in regional and non-metro markets like Imphal, where affordable fares are increasingly important.Despite this change, the transition has not proceeded without disruption. The region recently saw a significant delay of 18 hours due to a technical issue on a Kolkata-bound flight, as well as cancellations on the Guwahati–Hyderabad route, which led to passenger unrest. In response, Air India Express provided accommodation and meals to impacted travellers, managing the disruptions responsibly.Imphal International Airport bid farewell to the national carrier with a heartfelt message, calling Air India the “Big Brother” and expressing confidence that Air India Express, the “younger brother”, will uphold the legacy of service in the region. The airport’s social media post featured emotional imagery: staff visibly moved, watching the departure of an aircraft with deep nostalgia.As Air India Express begins phased operations, the focus shifts to maintaining seamless connectivity for residents of Manipur. This handover symbolises not just a change in airline operations, but a broader transformation in how air travel evolves to meet present-day demands.

Next Story
Real Estate

Swamiraj Rebrands as House of Swamiraj, Announces Rs 210 Cr Project

In a strategic shift marking its evolution from a reputed builder to a lifestyle-focused brand, Swamiraj Constructions has rebranded as House of Swamiraj. With a two-decade legacy and over 1,700 homes delivered across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the company is embracing a new phase centred on community-driven, wellness-oriented living. The rebranding was unveiled via a digital campaign titled #BeyondDimensions, executed in three phases—teaser, engagement, and launch. The campaign spotlighted the brand’s renewed commitment to designing homes that go beyond function to foster ..

Next Story
Resources

Morpho Dimensions Set to Cross Rs 1 billion Revenue in FY 25–26

Morpho Dimensions, a venture of acclaimed architecture and design firm Morphogenesis, is transforming India’s office interiors landscape with a technology-first, design-led approach. With a secured orderbook of Rs 700 million and additional projects in the pipeline, the firm is confidently on track to cross Rs 1 billion in revenue in FY 2025–26. By combining Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Virtual Reality (VR), Morpho Dimensions enables clients to visualise and step into immersive, ready-to-operate workspaces within 90 days—ushering in a new bench..

Next Story
Real Estate

TOTO’s NEOREST Surpasses 4 Million Global Shipments

TOTO has announced that its flagship smart toilet, NEOREST, has surpassed 4 million global shipments as of March 2025, marking a major milestone in the evolution of luxury sanitation and setting a new global benchmark in design-led hygiene innovation. Launched in 1993 with the aim to redefine conventional toilets, NEOREST has consistently merged cutting-edge technology with minimalist design. Over three decades, it has become a category-defining product, earning global acclaim with prestigious honours including the iF Design Award, Red Dot, and Green Good Design Awards. The integrate..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?