Guwahati: Assam’s push to position Guwahati as an international aviation gateway received a major boost on Monday, with CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announcing that Air India will launch direct flights from Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, to Dubai and Abu Dhabi from Aug 4.The announcement comes just days after European Union member states lifted travel restrictions for most parts of Assam — a development the state govt views as strengthening the region’s global connectivity and tourism prospects.Sharing the update on social media, Sarma said, “Opening new avenues to connect Assam to the global community!”“Just days after EU member states lifted their travel advisory for Assam, I am happy to share that from 4th August, Air India will commence direct flights from Guwahati to Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” he said.With the launch of the flights, Guwahati’s international footprint is set to expand further. “With these non-stop services, Guwahati Airport is now connected to four countries- UAE, Thailand, Singapore and Bhutan,” the CM said.The two new services will give the northeast’s largest city direct access to two of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, significantly improving international connectivity for passengers across the region.Industry observers believe the Dubai and Abu Dhabi routes could have implications beyond passenger travel. Both cities serve as major transit hubs linking Asia with Europe, Africa, and North America — potentially making international travel easier for tourists, students, business travellers, and the Indian diaspora.The announcement also aligns with Assam’s broader efforts to project Guwahati as a gateway to Southeast Asia under India’s Act East Policy. The state govt has been actively seeking greater international connectivity as part of its strategy to boost tourism, trade, and investment.Indicating that the expansion of international routes is far from over, Sarma said, “My next goal is to commence direct services to Vietnam, and I will keep you posted on that.”A direct connection with Vietnam would further strengthen links between northeast India and the ASEAN region, enhancing Guwahati’s role as a transit point between India and Southeast Asia.Describing the larger vision behind the move, Sarma said, “This is a big fillip in our efforts to position Guwahati as a major travel and transit hub for Southeast Asia.”The latest announcement adds to a series of developments aimed at increasing Assam’s global engagement — including efforts to attract international tourists, expand air connectivity, and leverage the state’s strategic location as a gateway between mainland India and Southeast Asia.Guwahati airport’s international passenger traffic has more than quadrupled in the last two years, rising from about 30,000 passengers in 2022-23 to nearly 1.3 lakh in 2024-25.While overseas travellers still account for barely 2% of the airport’s total footfall, the rapid growth underscores Guwahati’s emergence as an international gateway for the northeast — a trend likely to accelerate with the launch of direct flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
