Rupsi Airport Flight Chaos: Over 40 Cancellations Since December Hit Dhubri Passengers
Regular passengers at Rupsi Airport in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) region near Dhubri are grappling with significant difficulties due to frequent flight cancellations. Since mid-December 2025, nearly 40 flights operated by Alliance Air have been cancelled, causing widespread inconvenience and frustration among travelers.
Flight Schedule and Recent Disruptions
Alliance Air commenced operations at Rupsi Airport in October 2024, introducing four weekly flights connecting Rupsi to Guwahati and Kolkata. According to sources at the airport, the original schedule was structured as follows:
- Sunday: Kolkata-Rupsi-Kolkata route
- Monday: Guwahati-Rupsi-Guwahati route
- Tuesday: Guwahati-Rupsi-Kolkata route
- Friday: Guwahati-Rupsi-Guwahati route
However, recent minor changes to this schedule have left many passengers unaware and unprepared for alterations, compounding the issues caused by cancellations.
Official Explanation and Long-Term Solution
Kuntal Bhattacharjee, an Airport Authority of India (AAI) official at Rupsi, attributed the cancellations primarily to poor visibility conditions. He explained, "If visibility falls below five kilometres on a given day, flights are cancelled. Since mid-December, nearly 40 flights have been affected by this issue."
Bhattacharjee emphasized that the long-term resolution hinges on installing an instrument landing system (ILS) at Rupsi Airport, which is currently not in place. "The matter is under discussion at higher AAI levels, and hopefully, the system will be installed within a year," he stated, highlighting ongoing efforts to address the infrastructure gap.
Passenger Frustration and Communication Gaps
Despite official explanations, passengers have expressed mounting frustration over poor communication regarding cancellations. Bhagawati Bajaj, a regular flyer, voiced common concerns, stating, "Passengers are often not informed in advance about flight cancellations. Sometimes we only learn about them after reaching the airport, which is highly inconvenient."
Bajaj urged authorities to expedite the installation of the ILS, adding, "If an instrument landing system is required to prevent these disruptions, it should be installed immediately to avoid further hassles for travelers." This sentiment echoes among many affected passengers who rely on these flights for essential travel.
The situation underscores the challenges faced by regional airports in India, where weather-related issues and inadequate infrastructure can severely impact connectivity. As discussions continue at the AAI, passengers remain hopeful for a swift implementation of the ILS to restore reliable flight operations at Rupsi Airport.
