A troubling anomaly has emerged on the Imphal–Guwahati route. While flights from Aizawl to Guwahati and Agartala to Guwahati hover comfortably between Rs 1,900 and Rs 3,000—well within the civil aviation sector’s typical fare band of Rs 2,000–5,000—tickets from Imphal to Guwahati have skyrocketed to Rs 6,000–13,000, and in extreme cases, even five-figure sums.
This disparity is not merely inconvenient; it borders on exploitation, especially amid Manipur’s ongoing crisis under President’s Rule, where national highways remain perilous and air connectivity is indispensable.
The roots of this hike trace back to January 15, 2025, when Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, during the launch of additional Alliance Air services at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, appealed to Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to scrutinize and curb the soaring fares.
Attended virtually by the Union Minister, the event introduced subsidized routes—Imphal–Guwahati–Imphal, Imphal–Kolkata–Imphal, and Imphal–Dimapur–Imphal—operating twice weekly under Viability Gap Funding, with fares capped at Rs 5,000. N Biren Singh expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this relief, born from a state-alliance agreement to ease travel amid highway blockades.
Yet, today, he lamented the exorbitant rates of private carriers, urging revisions to alleviate public hardship.Fast-forward to the present, and the situation has deteriorated alarmingly. Imphal–Delhi flights now appear cheaper than the short hop to Guwahati—a perverse inversion that screams manipulation.
Imphal International Airport Director Chipemmi Keishing, in a candid Facebook post, attributed the surge to the withdrawal of several flights, compounded by dynamic pricing algorithms that inflate costs based on real-time demand, reduced competition, and seasonal trends.
While these mechanisms are standard in aviation, their application here seems disproportionately punitive. Comparable routes from Aizawl and Agartala, with similar traffic volumes and limited services, show no such escalation, underscoring a targeted anomaly on the Imphal–Guwahati sector.
If festival season is the reason for rush hour and flight tickets soaring high, then fares from Guwahati to Aizawl should be even higher with Christmas approaching. Yet inbound tickets remain normal at Rs 3,000, while Guwahati to Imphal exceeds Rs 10,000.
This is where suspicion of manipulation in flight algorithms arises. Same volume of traffic, same flight frequency—yet prices spiral uncontrolled in one particular sector.
Guwahati Fares Defy Diwali Skyrockets. Aggregators show this route holding steady at ₹1,900–₹7,000 even during peak Diwali and Christmas surges—20-30% lower than regional hikes—thanks to consistent flight frequencies and lower demand volatility.
Affordable Aizawl Flights Mock Christmas Crush. November–December marks the cheapest months here, with base fares from ₹1,924, untouched by the 80% spikes plaguing high-demand sectors like Imphal.
This is no abstract market fluctuation; it is a direct assault on Manipur’s residents, for whom air travel is not a luxury but a necessity. With ground routes compromised by unrest, inflated fares exacerbate economic strain, deter medical evacuations, and isolate families.
The sharp rise has rendered the route unaffordable for most, leaving only the affluent unscathed—a stark inequality in a region already grappling with instability.Urgent intervention is imperative. Airlines must rationalize fares and deploy additional flights within Imphal Airport’s ample slot capacity, which authorities have pledged to facilitate.
The Civil Aviation Ministry owes the public a thorough investigation into this selective manipulation. Why punish Imphal alone when neighboring sectors remain stable? Punitive action against those orchestrating this disparity—be it through algorithmic abuse or anti-competitive practices—is essential to restore equity.
The government, having once stepped in with subsidized services, must now enforce fairness across the board.
Enjoy the Editorial of Signpost News, edited every Tuesday.