Thursday, July 17, 2025
Shillong Airport in India will undergo a major expansion to allow bigger aircraft, improve connectivity, and create new markets for economic development in Meghalaya. The long-awaited project is expected to be finished by 2027, and it will do much to improve travel for tourists and businesspeople, making the state more accessible. Given the increase in frequency of flights along with the modernized infrastructure and 24X7 operations, not only the tourism but the real estate too will get a push with the Shillong Airport expansion as it will provide employment opportunities and trigger regional development. The development assumes significance for the transformation of Meghalaya as a key air travel hub of the region.
Meghalayans, particularly air travellers are excited for the Shillong Airport Umroi to be opened up for bigger aircraft. The much awaited development is expected to enhance air travel to the State, reduce travel time and promote the state economy.
Already, the government has sanctioned more than Rs 70 crore for land acquisition and the project will be ready by 2027. Once finished, the airport expansion will not only make travel more convenient, it will be the start of more tourists flowing in, with this benefiting state tourism. The upgraded infrastructure would help in drawing more tourists to Meghalaya, thus making it accessible to domestic and international travelers.
Most tourists who visit Meghalaya now arrive at Guwahati Airport, about three hours from Shillong. The distance and travel time make the trip immensely cumbersome for the people travelling. Another airport, Umroi Airport is 45 minutes away from Shillong without traffic congestion. The proximity makes the airport any tourists gateway and is a much needed alternative for those who have been seeking a quicker and convenient route to our state. The expansion of the airport will be a major benefit for the passengers, and from here on air travel in the region would be easy, comfortable and quick.
Combined with the rapid expansion of the airport, there will be an increase in tourist traffic in the region, leading to great opportunities for local businesses. Restaurants, transport providers and retail premises together will be more crowded, boosted by an influx of visitors. Also, the youth in the state of Meghalaya will also have jobs from the expansion of the airport. This would cover employment in tourism, the services industry including hotels, cars rentals, tour operations etc. As the demand for such facilities increases, the macro local economy will witness tremendous growth, which will benefit both in short and long term for the people of Meghalaya.”
With more tourists expected to visit, new businesses will spring up, and the local market will grow to meet the increasing demand. Small local businesses like souvenir stalls, transport companies and food vendors has much to gain and a more interesting local economy to support. There is a lot of potential to create jobs across sectors in Jharkhand also, which can now contribute in an even greater way towards economic growth in the state.
Apart from enhanced traffic, the growth of Umroi Airport will result in more flight frequency as well. At present, it only serves a few flights a day but, by having the toilet facilities, they can add others and you have more opportunities to travel. The government has also expressed its wish to run the airport round the clock to keep up with other big airports in India. The expansion project would allow the airport to receive flights at times throughout the day and night, providing more flexibility for both the tourists and year round residents.
More flights would also facilitate better connectivity between Meghalaya and other parts of the country, which in turn would help the people of Meghalaya to visit and come to the state. It is anticipated that domestic and international tourism shall flourish with many more flights on a regular basis. The ripple effect of this will in turn lead to a fillip to other sectors such as hospitality, food services, entertainment and, consequently, further boost to Meghalaya as a tourist destination. The investment in infrastructure will in turn further enable business and trade on a local and global level.
The state is anxious to see the airport work at capacity and is looking for the airfield to become a 24-hour operation in the short term. If completed, it a major step for Meghalaya tourism and air connectivity. Government and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will work together for the timely and hassle-free execution of the expansion. The project is being strongly endorsed by the government and is not only expected to be on time, but the hope is that it will also be done faster than planned.
Growing from strength to strength, the expansion has lured the people of Meghalaya, who are anticipating its advantages. The development will improve access to the state and the increased airport capacity is likely to help boost the economy through the arrival of tourists. The local economy, particularly the tourism sector, will boom with the expected rise in the numbers of visitors, and there will be more jobs in the area, particularly for young people.
The Meghalayans are sanguine that the day their big birds arrive and take off every day and they would instill in its people a sense of well-being with an improved connectivity with the region. On the positive side, once realized, this project will be a watershed in the history of the state and a new era in the development and growth of economy of Meghalaya. This expansion will not just connect the state to the rest of the country but also ensure it becomes an even more popular destination for both tourism and commercial activities.
India’s Shillong Airport is to be modernized for larger aircraft and better connectivity, making travel more convenient and driving Meghalaya’s tourism and economy. It will allow more flights, operate 24 hours and bring new business to the area.
With the project nearing its end, there is a flicker of hope among the people that it will bring a better future for Meghalaya. Air travel facilities, which will be available more, also increase the business and tourist activities in the state and this bodes for bigger things in the state economy in the future. As the airport becomes larger, Meghalaya will experience growth and development in an era of connectivity and potential opportunities.
