Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Youth Congress flags high airfares in Northeast
A leader from the Youth Congress noticed that flights in the Northeast are very expensive and there aren't many airlines to choose from.
For example, a short flight from Imphal to Guwahati costs more than a longer flight from Imphal to New Delhi.
This is a problem because people in the Northeast rely on flights a lot due to difficult roads and few trains.
The leader wrote a letter asking the government to look into this issue and make air travel more affordable.
Youth Congress leader Tarh Johny highlighted high airfares and limited airline competition in the Northeast.
A 50-minute flight from Imphal to Guwahati cost Rs 11,687, while a 2.40-hour flight from Imphal to New Delhi cost Rs 10,525 on July 18.
Johny cited challenging terrain, sparse railway networks, and long road travel durations as reasons why air travel is essential in the Northeast.
The issue affects citizens across eight states in the Northeast region.
Johny urged Deputy Leader of the Opposition Gaurav Gogoi to raise the matter in Parliament and called for a comprehensive review of airfare trends.
- Who
- Tarh Johny, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) national general secretary
- What
- High airfares and limited airline competition in the Northeast
- When
- July 18 (fare comparison), July 20 (letter sent)
- Where
- Northeast region of India (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim, Assam)
- Why
- Due to challenging terrain, sparse railway networks, and long road travel durations, air travel is an essential necessity rather than a luxury.
Youth Congress
Government/Airlines
Airfare Disparities
Youth Congress
High airfares and limited competition in the Northeast are causing hardships for passengers, especially students, patients, and businesspersons.
Government/Airlines
Airlines may argue that high fares are due to operational costs, low passenger volume, and the challenging terrain of the region.
- Date of Concern
- July 18
- Flight from Imphal to Guwahati
- Rs 11,687 for 50 minutes
- Flight from Imphal to New Delhi
- Rs 10,525 for 2.40 hours
- Affected States
- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim, Assam
- Request to Deputy Leader
- Gaurav Gogoi
- Minister of Civil Aviation
- Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu