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| Imphal International Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Imphal International Airport |
| Nativename | Tulihal Airport |
| Iata | IMF |
| Icao | VYIM |
| Type | Public |
| Owner | Airports Authority of India |
| City-served | Imphal, Manipur |
| Location | Tulihal, Imphal West district, Manipur, India |
| Elevation-f | 2,760 |
| Elevation-m | 841 |
| Coordinates | 24°44′N 93°56′E |
Imphal International Airport Imphal International Airport, located at Tulihal near Imphal in Manipur, is the primary civil aviation gateway to the Indian state of Manipur and the broader Northeast India region. Established as a military airstrip during the World War II era, the facility has evolved under the administration of the Airports Authority of India into an international airport serving scheduled domestic and limited international flights, connecting to hubs such as Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru and regional destinations in Southeast Asia. The airport plays a strategic role in linking Northeast India to the rest of India and neighboring countries, and it supports civil, diplomatic, and limited military aviation operations.
Tulihal began as an airstrip used during World War II when British India and Allied forces conducted operations in the Burma Campaign and around the Battle of Imphal. Post-war administration saw transition to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation oversight and later transfer to the Airports Authority of India for civil use. Civil operations expanded during the post-independence period with services by carriers such as Indian Airlines and later Air India and regional operators, while the airport infrastructure periodically upgraded during the 1970s and 1990s to accommodate turboprop and narrow-body jet aircraft. In the 21st century, as part of the Indo-Myanmar connectivity emphasis and the Look East Policy (later termed Act East Policy), the airport received further investments to support international operations and increased passenger volumes, aligning with regional initiatives including the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway discussions.
The airport features a single asphalt runway (09/27) capable of handling narrow-body jetliners such as the Airbus A320 family and the Boeing 737 series. Terminal facilities include arrival and departure halls, customs and immigration counters, cargo handling areas, and basic passenger amenities overseen by the Airports Authority of India. Navigational aids comprise Instrument Landing System components, meteorological equipment coordinated with the Indian Meteorological Department, and air traffic services managed through the Guwahati Flight Information Region. Ground support equipment and apron stands facilitate operations for aircraft operated by carriers including IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and regional operators. Security coordination involves the Central Industrial Security Force and local Manipur Police units, while emergency response frameworks link to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation standards and regional firefighting units.
Scheduled operations at the airport include services by major Indian carriers such as IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Go First, with routes to metropolitan centers like Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bengaluru, and Chennai. Periodic regional connectivity has seen operations linking to Imphal's neighboring capitals including Shillong (via Assam hubs), and there have been diplomatic and charter links related to cross-border initiatives with Myanmar cities such as Tamu and Yangon during promotional phases. Cargo services have been undertaken by operators contracted through the Airports Authority of India and logistics firms servicing agricultural and handicraft exports from Manipur to domestic markets.
Passenger traffic has shown growth in response to improved air connectivity under national schemes and the regional economic push, tracked annually by the Airports Authority of India statistics programs and state transport planning authorities of Manipur. Aircraft movements and cargo throughput reflect seasonal variations tied to festivals such as Sangai Festival and agricultural cycles centered on local produce from districts including Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Imphal East. Comparative data situate the airport among important nodes in Northeast India air transport alongside Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Aizawl Lengpui Airport, and Dibrugarh.
The airport is accessible via road linkages to Imphal city center through the Tulihal–Imphal route, connecting with state highways that tie into the National Highways Authority of India network and broader corridors toward Guwahati and Moreh. Local transport options include prepaid taxis, app-based ride services linked to providers active in Northeast India, and state-run bus services coordinated by the Manipur State Transport. Plans for improved multimodal connectivity reference integration with proposals under the Bharatmala Pariyojana and regional road enhancement schemes that interface with cross-border access points toward Myanmar.
Upgrades have been implemented in phases under funding mechanisms associated with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Aviation Sector initiatives to convert the airport to international standards, including terminal modernization, apron expansion, and runway resurfacing. Proposed developments have included expanded cargo terminals to serve exports of handloom and horticulture produce, enhanced passenger amenities, and potential installation of category II/III Instrument Landing System upgrades to improve all-weather operations, coordinated with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation certification processes. Regional strategic discussions have connected airport expansion to broader projects such as the Act East Policy, India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway, and bilateral air services agreements between India and Myanmar.
Operational safety follows protocols set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India, with routine audits and safety management systems in place. Historical incidents have included weather-related diversions influenced by the Monsoon season and isolated technical occurrences typical of regional airports; responses have involved coordination with Central Industrial Security Force, regional firefighting contingents, and medical facilities in Imphal. Investigations and procedural adjustments have been conducted in line with national civil aviation regulatory practices and lessons from incidents at other regional airports such as Aizawl Lengpui Airport and Agartala Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport.
Category:Airports in Manipur