Kailashahar Airport development depends on formal airline proposals, MBB Airport Director Krishnan Mohan Nehra says, with 205 acres sought for expansion and all-weather operations, while Agartala airport focuses on retaining flights and improving passenger services.
The long-awaited development and possible revival of Kailashahar Airport in Tripura’s Unakoti district will depend significantly on formal commitments from airlines, Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport Director Krishnan Mohan Nehra said on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference in Agartala, Nehra said airport development would be planned according to the type of aircraft an airline proposes to operate from Kailashahar.
Nehra said one or two airlines are currently preparing written proposals for starting services from Kailashahar. According to him, the airport authorities are ready to move ahead once an airline formally confirms its intention to operate flights from the facility.
“If an airline gives its consent, we will make that airport operational,” Nehra said, adding that the infrastructure development plan would depend on the aircraft type and operational requirements specified by the airline.
The proposed revival, however, would require substantial infrastructure expansion. Nehra said Kailashahar Airport does not currently have sufficient land and facilities to support larger aircraft or reliable operations under adverse weather conditions. The airport authority has therefore sought 205 acres of additional land from the Tripura government.
Explaining the technical requirements, Nehra said smaller aircraft could potentially operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) when weather and visibility conditions are suitable. However, poor visibility could create operational difficulties. For more reliable all-weather operations, the airport would require an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and associated infrastructure.
An ILS assists aircraft during approach by helping pilots align with the runway centreline while providing directional and distance information. Nehra said the development process could proceed once the required land is made available.
The proposed expansion is particularly important if Kailashahar is eventually developed to accommodate larger aircraft, including Airbus-type operations. The scale of investment and infrastructure, therefore, will be closely connected to the operational plans submitted by airlines.
Meanwhile, Nehra also addressed concerns over reductions in flight frequencies from Agartala’s MBB Airport. He said airline schedules are largely commercial decisions and can be affected by factors such as aircraft availability, maintenance requirements and operating conditions.
Hyderabad services, which had earlier operated five days a week, have reportedly been reduced to three days a week. Delhi services have also undergone changes in frequency. Nehra said he had written to the chief executive officers of airlines operating from Agartala, requesting them not to withdraw services and pointing to the strong passenger demand at the airport. The Tripura government has also taken up the matter with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.
Nehra noted that passenger demand generally remains comparatively lower between July and September, while traffic increases substantially during the festival season. MBB Airport currently handles up to 14 arrivals and 14 departures daily, with around 4,000 to 4,500 passengers travelling through the airport each day. During peak periods, daily passenger movement can rise to approximately 6,000, while flight occupancy frequently reaches between 95 and 99 per cent.
The airport handled nearly 1.5 million passengers during the 2025–26 financial year and secured the sixth position nationally in the Customer Satisfaction Survey, according to airport officials. MBB Airport has also introduced facilities and procedures aimed at improving passenger convenience and safe operations.
Alongside connectivity and infrastructure issues, Nehra announced two passenger-focused initiatives at MBB Airport. The ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ campaign will be conducted from September 17 to October 2, while the ‘Yatri Sewa Abhiyan 2026’ will continue until October 10. The programmes will focus on cleanliness, passenger assistance, accessibility and service improvement.
The initiatives will include improved assistance for senior citizens and Divyangjan, better passenger information, baggage-related services, drinking-water facilities, digital services, women- and child-friendly facilities, cultural activities and emergency preparedness.
Nehra said “Service with Smile” would remain a central theme of the initiatives, with the airport seeking to make passenger service a continuous practice rather than a short-term campaign.
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The developments surrounding Kailashahar Airport now place airline interest at the centre of the proposed revival. With written proposals being prepared and additional land required for expansion, the next stage will depend on the airlines’ operational plans and the availability of the land and infrastructure needed to support them.
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