Akasa Air has taken a decisive step in reshaping how travellers move across Northeast India, with the launch of its new non stop Dibrugarh–Bagdogra sector and seamless through services to Bengaluru. The route, which began operations in early February 2026, connects Upper Assam’s commercial hub with North Bengal’s key aviation gateway, providing a shorter, smoother alternative to the region’s traditionally slow and fragmented surface journeys. For both local communities and visitors, the new link promises to unlock fresh opportunities in tourism, trade and cross border exploration of the eastern Himalayas.
A Strategic New Bridge Across the Eastern Himalayas
Dibrugarh and Bagdogra may be only around an hour and forty minutes apart by air, but until now, travellers heading between Upper Assam and North Bengal often faced long, multi stage journeys by road or rail. By introducing thrice weekly direct flights on the Dibrugarh–Bagdogra route, Akasa Air has effectively created an air bridge between tea growing Assam and the tourism rich foothills of the eastern Himalayas. The non stop sector also doubles as the core leg of a longer through service that links Dibrugarh with Bengaluru via Bagdogra, without the inconvenience of an aircraft change.
The airline’s new schedule currently operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with flight QP 1850 departing Bengaluru early in the morning, stopping at Bagdogra, and then continuing to Dibrugarh. The return service, QP 1851, begins in Dibrugarh late in the morning and routes via Bagdogra before landing back in Bengaluru by late afternoon. For passengers focused solely on the regional hop, the Dibrugarh–Bagdogra segment offers a fast, predictable alternative to long distance ground transport, sharply cutting travel times between Assam and North Bengal.
The move is particularly significant given Dibrugarh’s role as the Tea City of India and a gateway to Upper Assam and neighbouring states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Bagdogra, for its part, functions as the primary air access point for Darjeeling, Sikkim and parts of North Bengal. By stitching these two gateways together in the sky, Akasa Air is not just serving point to point demand but reinforcing a vital corridor for business and tourism across the broader eastern region.
Strengthening Regional Connectivity in the Northeast
Akasa Air’s decision to add Dibrugarh as its 32nd destination fits squarely within its declared strategy of deepening connectivity in high potential but historically under served regions. The airline already serves Guwahati, and the addition of Dibrugarh marks a second foothold in Assam, expanding its total weekly departures from the state and creating more options for travellers headed to and from major metros such as Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
The Dibrugarh–Bagdogra route is designed to work as a backbone for a broader network play in the Northeast. In practice, the non stop segment allows passengers from Upper Assam to connect more efficiently to onward flights and surface links that fan out from Bagdogra towards Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Gangtok and even further west into the plains. Conversely, residents and visitors based in North Bengal and Sikkim can now access Dibrugarh and Upper Assam without having to detour via Guwahati or Kolkata, saving both time and cost.
This focus on regional integration reflects a wider trend in Indian aviation policy, which has encouraged airlines to link tier two and tier three cities directly rather than routing everything through a handful of mega hubs. By aligning its network with these priorities, Akasa Air is positioning itself as a key private sector partner in the ongoing effort to better connect the Northeast with the rest of the country, and to improve mobility within the region itself.
Tourism Gains for Assam, North Bengal and Beyond
For leisure travellers, the most visible impact of the new Dibrugarh–Bagdogra route lies in how it reconfigures access to some of eastern India’s most sought after destinations. Bagdogra is the preferred airport for Darjeeling and the tea gardens of the Dooars, as well as for the adventure hubs and monasteries of Sikkim. At the other end, Dibrugarh opens the door to the riverine landscapes of Upper Assam, the heritage tea estates that dot the Brahmaputra valley, and road connections to wildlife rich national parks and tribal regions further east.
Previously, a traveller who wanted to combine, for example, Darjeeling and Sikkim with a tea and river cruise experience in Upper Assam would have faced a complex itinerary of flights and trains, or a long haul by road. With Akasa Air’s non stop link, it becomes far easier to design multi centre trips that span both Assam and North Bengal within a single week, with Bagdogra and Dibrugarh functioning as flexible entry and exit points.
Tour operators in both regions are already eyeing opportunities to package cross regional circuits that bundle Himalayan hill stations with tea tourism, river cruises, birdwatching and visits to cultural sites in Assam. The time and cost savings on the core Dibrugarh–Bagdogra leg make it more realistic for domestic tourists, especially families and young professionals, to consider such itineraries. International visitors arriving via metros like Bengaluru and Mumbai can also connect more seamlessly into the Northeast without the uncertainty and fatigue of long overnight journeys.
Unlocking Trade, Education and Medical Travel
While tourism is a major beneficiary, the new route’s impact extends well beyond leisure travel. Dibrugarh’s economy is anchored in tea, oil and gas, higher education and healthcare, sectors that depend on reliable connectivity to business centres and logistics hubs across India. Bagdogra, with its proximity to Siliguri, functions as a critical node in road based trade flows to the Northeast and neighbouring countries, and hosts a growing ecosystem of education and service sector institutions.
The non stop Dibrugarh–Bagdogra flight, backed by through services to Bengaluru, compresses the travel window for business travellers who need to shuttle between Upper Assam, North Bengal and southern India. Meetings, inspections and conferences that previously required multi day itineraries can now be planned more efficiently around the tri weekly schedule, with the assurance of a fixed air link underpinning commercial relationships.
The route also offers practical benefits for education and medical travellers. Students from Assam heading to universities and coaching centres in Siliguri, Sikkim or further south gain a faster, more predictable path home during holidays and exam breaks. Patients seeking specialised care in larger cities, including Bengaluru, can now rely on a single through flight with coordinated timings, reducing the stress and uncertainty associated with complex connections and overnight layovers.
Improved Airport Infrastructure in Dibrugarh
The success of any new air link depends not only on airline strategy but also on the readiness of airport infrastructure. In Dibrugarh, recent upgrades have laid a strong foundation for Akasa Air’s expansion. Authorities have highlighted the completion of a modern Air Traffic Control building and ongoing efforts to support more frequent and flexible operations, including plans for regular evening flights.
These improvements are particularly important for a city that serves as an aviation lifeline for large swathes of Upper Assam and the neighbouring hill states. A more capable airport can handle higher traffic volumes, improve on time performance and create a safer operating environment in a region where weather patterns and riverine geography can pose challenges to aviation. For airlines such as Akasa Air, this translates into greater confidence when committing aircraft and schedules to new routes.
The inauguration of Akasa Air’s operations at Dibrugarh was marked by a formal ceremony attended by representatives of the Airports Authority of India, local officials and airline executives. The symbolism was clear: the new flights are not a stand alone commercial experiment, but part of a coordinated push involving local and national stakeholders to transform Dibrugarh into a more prominent aviation and economic hub.
Passenger Experience and Schedule Convenience
From a passenger’s perspective, Akasa Air’s Dibrugarh–Bagdogra offering is built around predictability and convenience. The tri weekly pattern on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays is designed to capture both business and leisure demand, with timings that enable same day onward connections and comfortable arrival windows at each end. The use of a single aircraft for the Bengaluru–Bagdogra–Dibrugarh rotation eliminates the need to change planes, simplifying the journey, especially for travellers who may be less accustomed to flying.
The flight time of around one hour and forty minutes between Dibrugarh and Bagdogra stands in sharp contrast to road journeys that can stretch to a full day or more, depending on conditions. For travellers who value time and comfort, the cost of a flight is increasingly competitive when weighed against the expense and fatigue of long distance surface travel. Online fare data already show competitive pricing on the Bagdogra–Dibrugarh sector, broadening access beyond premium travellers to a wider middle class audience.
On board, Akasa Air deploys its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in an all economy configuration, a layout that balances capacity with comfort and helps keep unit costs low. This, in turn, supports sustained operations on regional sectors that may take time to mature in terms of load factors, but which deliver outsized socio economic benefits to the communities they connect.
Positioning in an Evolving Northeast Aviation Landscape
The new Dibrugarh–Bagdogra route enters a regional aviation market that has grown steadily more competitive, with multiple carriers now operating in and out of Northeast India. Air India Express and other airlines have launched or expanded services on several intra regional routes, linking cities such as Agartala, Guwahati and Bagdogra more closely. In this context, Akasa Air’s move into Dibrugarh is as much about securing a strategic foothold as it is about serving immediate demand.
By pairing Dibrugarh with Bagdogra and Bengaluru, Akasa Air creates a distinctive value proposition that combines regional connectivity with direct access to a southern tech and business hub. The airline’s broader order book, which includes a large pipeline of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft scheduled for delivery over the coming years, gives it the fleet flexibility to sustain and expand its presence in the Northeast as markets develop.
For travellers, increased competition can translate into more frequency, better timings and sharper pricing. Over time, as passenger numbers build and infrastructure continues to improve, the Dibrugarh–Bagdogra corridor could support additional services and potentially higher weekly frequencies, further embedding air travel into the daily life and economic fabric of the region.
Looking Ahead: A Catalyst for Regional Growth
Akasa Air’s launch of non stop services between Dibrugarh and Bagdogra is more than a new line on the route map. It is a tangible sign of confidence in the long term potential of Northeast India as a tourism, trade and cultural destination. By shortening distances between Upper Assam, North Bengal and southern India, the airline is helping to weave together communities that share deep historical, economic and environmental links but have often been separated by geography and limited infrastructure.
In the near term, the route is expected to boost arrivals into tea estates, hill stations and river cruise circuits, while making it easier for students, professionals and patients to move between home and opportunity. In the longer run, reliable air connectivity can influence investment decisions, encourage the growth of new hospitality and service businesses, and support policy goals aimed at integrating the Northeast more closely with the national economy.
For now, travellers stepping aboard Akasa Air’s QP 1850 or QP 1851 are both beneficiaries and early participants in this transformation. Whether they are flying for work, study, medical treatment or the sheer pleasure of watching the Brahmaputra from the sky before heading on to the mountains, their journeys trace a new, more connected chapter in the story of Northeast India’s mobility.