Agartala, 11th August 2026 : With several airlines reducing or withdrawing flight services from Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury has sought the intervention of Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to restore air connectivity and check the sharp rise in airfares.
In a letter to the Union minister, Chowdhury expressed concern over the shrinking number of flights from Agartala despite increasing demand for air travel from the state. He said the withdrawal of services by multiple airlines has created difficulties for passengers and affected connectivity between Tripura and several major destinations.
The minister pointed to recent and proposed changes by Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air. According to the letter, Air India has reduced its operations and is likely to discontinue the Agartala-Guwahati service from October 22. Air India Express has also reduced or withdrawn services on certain routes, including the reported discontinuation of its Agartala-Bagdogra-Bengaluru service.
Similarly, IndiGo’s direct Agartala-Hyderabad service is proposed to be withdrawn from October 1, while Akasa Air is scheduled to discontinue its operations from Agartala from October 22.
Chowdhury also recalled the earlier withdrawal of services on the Agartala-Shillong, Agartala-Aizawl and direct Agartala-Chennai routes.
The minister said the reduction in flight frequency has aggravated the shortage of seats and resulted in a substantial increase in airfares on key routes, including Agartala-Kolkata, Agartala-Delhi, Agartala-Guwahati and Agartala-Bengaluru.
The impact, he said, is being felt particularly by people travelling outside the state for medical treatment, education, business, official assignments and other urgent requirements.
Seeking immediate intervention, Chowdhury urged the Centre to engage with the airlines and explore measures to restore discontinued services, retain existing routes and increase flight capacity on sectors witnessing high passenger demand.
He also appealed for steps to address the surge in airfares and ensure affordable air travel for the people of Tripura.
The minister said sustained and adequate air connectivity is essential for Tripura, given its geographical location and dependence on air links with the rest of the country.
