Meghalaya’s tourism to get a boost as Shillong airport will accommodate wide-bodied aircraft

Giving a boost to Meghalaya’s overall connectivity and specifically to its tourism sector, Shillong’s sole airport at Umroi will have its runway extended to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft by the last quarter of the 2026–27 financial year.

During a round-table with select media personnel in Shillong last month, held in connection with World Tourism Day celebrations, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that work worth over ₹500 crore, including a 550-metre runway extension and terminal upgrades, will commence in October and is expected to be completed within 15 months.

The domestic airport at Umroi, located approximately 30 km from Shillong, currently offers direct connectivity to a few select cities: Kolkata, Aizawl, Imphal, and Delhi. Other air travellers heading to Meghalaya must disembark at Guwahati International Airport and undertake a three-hour road journey to reach Shillong.

“There was a report by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) 15 years ago. It stated that even if the runway were expanded, larger aircraft would still be unable to land due to the massive mountains in front. Chopping off those mountains would have cost ₹7,000 crore. Clearly, it wasn’t a viable option,” said Mr. Sangma.

Given that the AAI report was dated and technology had significantly advanced, the Meghalaya government commissioned a fresh study a few years ago, involving both independent agencies and the AAI. It was a risk to invest in the study, but it proved worthwhile.

“The new report confirmed that extending the runway was now feasible. We received clearance about two years ago. Following consultations with the Union Government and AAI, we were given the go-ahead, and the Union Government subsequently sanctioned the funds. However, as expected, some hurdles emerged,” Mr. Sangma said.

“The runway extension required land acquisition, including a small patch owned by the Army. We had to negotiate with them, and eventually, we succeeded in bringing all stakeholders on board and acquiring the land parcel. The land has been handed over to the AAI. The construction has been tendered, and the work is expected to be allotted shortly.”

“I anticipate flights to start landing by the last quarter of 2026–27. Several domestic airlines have conducted surveys and expressed willingness to operate services once the runway is extended. It will be a game-changer for the tourism sector, and we are preparing for that moment to accommodate the tourist inflow,” said Mr. Sangma.

(This writer was in Meghalaya at the invitation of Meghalaya Tourism)