Shillong Airport: Govt explores prospect of flying larger aircraft

SHILLONG, Aug 14: The prospect of larger aircraft operating from Shillong Airport in Umroi remains uncertain as the Meghalaya government continues to explore new technologies to make this dream a reality. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, addressing the issue on Wednesday, acknowledged that before 2018, there were no regular flights to Meghalaya, with only sporadic services between Shillong and Kolkata.
Despite previous efforts, including the costly removal of mountains near the airport at an expense of around Rs 100 crore, significant challenges remain. The CM highlighted the progress made since 2018, stating that multiple flights now operate from Shillong Airport, with the government actively working to introduce the 72-seater Embraer jet for direct flights to New Delhi.
The introduction of this jet is seen as a potential game-changer, reducing travel time to the capital to approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. The CM revealed that tenders for this service are close to being finalised, although financial considerations, including Viability Gap Funding, are still under discussion. The government plans to operate these flights six days a week and is also exploring similar routes to other major cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai.
However, the operation of larger aircraft faces significant obstacles. Conrad pointed out that bigger planes require advanced technology such as laser-guided approach lighting systems (ALS) and a clear line of sight for 7 kilometres — challenges exacerbated by a large mountain located 6 kilometres from the airport. Levelling this mountain would cost approximately Rs 7,000 crore, a daunting figure.
Despite these challenges, the government is optimistic, studying new technologies that could potentially allow larger aircraft to land at Shillong Airport in the near future. A final decision on these plans is expected by the end of this month.