Agartala, September 16, 2026: The proposed revival and development of Kailashahar Airport will depend largely on airline interest and the type of aircraft proposed for operation, MBB Airport Director Krishnan Mohan Nehra said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference at his office in Agartala on the upcoming ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ and ‘Yatri Sewa Abhiyan 2026’, Nehra said one or two airlines were in the process of submitting proposals to operate flights from Kailashahar. A clearer picture would emerge once the proposals were formally submitted.
“If an airline gives its consent, we will make that airport operational,” Nehra said.
He said the airport’s development plan would be prepared based on the type of aircraft an airline proposes to operate. Additional land would be required if the airport is to be developed as an all-weather facility capable of handling larger aircraft.
“We have requested 205 acres of land from the State Government. There isn’t enough land there right now. We need an additional 205 acres,” Nehra said.
Nehra explained that smaller aircraft might operate under suitable weather conditions using Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Poor visibility, though, would restrict such operations. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) and associated infrastructure would be required to support more reliable operations during low-visibility conditions.
“ILS stands for Instrument Landing System. It assists the aircraft,” he said, explaining that the system helps pilots align with the runway and provides directional and distance information during approach.
“As soon as the land is provided, we will develop it,” Nehra said.
Airlines to Decide Flight Frequencies
On the reduction in flight frequencies and higher airfares from Agartala, Nehra said scheduling remained a commercial decision of individual airlines.
He said aircraft shortages and maintenance requirements had led airlines to adjust services on several routes. Nehra added that he had written to the CEOs of all airlines operating from Agartala, requesting them not to withdraw flights, citing the airport’s passenger traffic.
The State Government has also raised the issue with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, he said.
Nehra said Hyderabad services, which earlier operated five days a week, were currently available three days a week, with efforts underway to restore the earlier frequency. Delhi services were also being adjusted, with two flights planned on three days of the week and one flight on the remaining days.
“Ultimately, it is a commercial decision made by the airline,” Nehra said regarding flight frequency and fares. He added that airfare calculations depend on the operating cost of individual sectors.
He also said July to September is generally a lean travel period, while passenger demand tends to increase during the festival season.
MBB Airport Handles Up to 4,500 Passengers Daily
According to Nehra, MBB Airport currently handles up to 14 arrivals and 14 departures a day, with daily passenger movement of around 4,000 to 4,500.
Passenger traffic is expected to reach around 6,000 a day during the festival season, he said. Flight occupancy often reaches 95 to 99 per cent, according to the airport director.
MBB Airport handled nearly 1.5 million passengers during the 2025-26 financial year and secured sixth position among Indian airports in the Customer Satisfaction Survey, Nehra said.
Cleanliness and Passenger Services in Focus
The ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ campaign at MBB Airport will run from September 17 to October 2, while the ‘Yatri Sewa Abhiyan 2026’ will continue until October 10.
The initiatives will focus on cleanliness, accessibility for Divyangjan and senior citizens, passenger information, baggage handling, drinking water, digital services, women- and child-friendly facilities, cultural promotion, emergency preparedness and passenger assistance.
“Service with Smile” will remain a key theme of the campaign, Nehra said, adding that the airport aims to make passenger service part of its regular functioning rather than limit the initiative to the campaign period.
