About Rupsi Airport Travel Guide: Flights, Connectivity & Insider Tips

The airport is located in the town of Rupsi which sits approximately 17 kilometers north of Dhubri city center. It is a public domestic airport that is owned by the Government of India and operated by the Airports Authority of India

It carries the IATA code RUP and the ICAO code VERU and while it may be small in size compared to the major airports of India, its importance to the region is anything but small.

The airfield at Rupsi was originally constructed by the British during the Second World War and it served a very specific and critical military purpose at the time. The United States Army Air Forces' Tenth Air Force used this airfield as part of the China-Burma-India Theater, where it functioned as a key supply point for arms, manpower and ammunition that were being moved to support the Allied forces operating in that region.

After the war ended, the airfield gradually shifted from military use to civilian operations. In the 1980s, a regional airline called Vayudoot began operating flight services from Rupsi, giving the local population their first real taste of domestic air travel. 

However, when Vayudoot shut down entirely in 1984, the airport lost all its scheduled operations and fell into a long period of inactivity. The Government of India made several attempts to bring the airport back to life through a joint initiative between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the North Eastern Council, but none of those efforts succeeded and the airfield remained dormant for nearly four decades.

The turning point in Rupsi Airport's modern history came in the 2010s, when both the AAI and the Indian Air Force began taking concrete steps to restore and upgrade the airfield for both commercial and defence purposes. 

• This renewed commitment to the airport's revival brought with it a series of important milestones that gradually transformed the old wartime airstrip into a functioning modern airport.
• On 22 February 2019, the then Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, together with Bodoland Territorial Council Chief Hagrama Mohilary, laid the foundation stone for the airport's new terminal building.
• The development programme involved an estimated investment of Rs. 70 crore which covered the construction of a 3,500-square-metre terminal building that was designed to accommodate ATR-72 type aircraft. By October 2019, the entire airport infrastructure had been made ready.
• On 5 May 2021, the newly launched domestic airline FlyBig conducted a successful trial flight at Rupsi and just three days later, on 8 May 2021, commercial operations officially began under the Government of India's UDAN Scheme.
• FlyBig became the first airline to launch scheduled services from the airport, with routes connecting Rupsi to both Guwahati and Kolkata  as two of the most important destinations for travellers in northeast India.

• The airport covers a total area of 447 acres which is approximately 181 hectares and it sits at an elevation of 40 meters above mean sea level which is equivalent to 131 feet. These details matter particularly for travellers who are flying for the first time or who are unfamiliar with smaller regional airports.
• The airport has a single paved runway that is designated 05/23. This runway measures 1,829 meters in length and 46 meters in width which translates to 6,000 feet by 150 feet and it is surfaced with asphalt.
• The runway is currently equipped to handle ATR-72 category aircraft which are the standard aircraft used across most regional routes in India. The terminal building spans 3,500 square meters and provides passengers with the essential facilities needed for a comfortable departure or arrival experience.
• On the development side, the AAI and the Indian Air Force are jointly working to expand the airport's capabilities for both commercial and military operations. As part of this long-term plan, the IAF is currently evaluating the feasibility of extending the runway to 10,000 feet which would allow fighter aircraft to operate from Rupsi and significantly increase the airport's strategic value for national defence.

For travellers planning their flight travel from Rupsi Airport, it is important to know the current route options so they can plan their journeys realistically. At present, Alliance Air operates scheduled flights from RUP to two destinations  as Guwahati and Kolkata. 

Guwahati is the commercial and administrative hub of Assam while Kolkata is one of the most well-connected major cities in eastern India which means that travellers can use these routes to access a much wider network of flights to other parts of the country.

Because the number of routes currently operating from Rupsi is limited, planning ahead and booking early is one of the most practical things a traveller can do. 

Searching for an affordable flight on a platform like Flightsmojo allows you to compare the available options and understand which timings and fares work best for your journey, so your flight booking process stays simple and stress-free rather than becoming a last-minute scramble.

The most honest way to understand how much Rupsi Airport has grown since its revival is to look at the passenger and movement data. According to the latest statistics from the AAI covering the period.

Between April 2024 and March 2025, the airport handled a total of 7,122 passengers during that year which represents a remarkable growth of 78.6  % compared to the previous period. Aircraft movements during the same period reached 164, reflecting an equally strong increase of 77.1  %. Cargo tonnage data was not available for this period.

These numbers are significant because they show that the demand for air travel in lower Assam is growing at a steady and healthy rate. The sharp rise in both passengers and aircraft movements is a clear sign that the people of Dhubri and Kokrajhar are embracing the opportunity to fly and that the UDAN-connected routes are delivering real value to the region. 

For travellers who are currently looking for a cheap flight ticket to or from Rupsi, this growth in traffic is also a positive indicator that more airlines and routes are likely to become available as the airport continues to expand.

One of the lesser-known but genuinely exciting aspects of Rupsi Airport is its position as a natural starting point for travellers who want to explore the wildlife-rich landscapes of Assam and West Bengal.

The airport's location in the lower Assam belt puts it within reach of several important wildlife destinations and for nature lovers and ecotourists, flying into RUP can save a significant amount of travel time compared to arriving by road or rail.

The destinations that fall within this zone include Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary and Ultapani Reserve Forest in Assam, along with Manas National Park which is one of the most celebrated national parks in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Across the state border in West Bengal, travellers can also reach Jaldapara National Park in the Alipurduar district and Buxa Tiger Reserve, both of which are known for their rich biodiversity and scenic landscapes. For anyone planning a wildlife trip to this part of India, booking an air ticket to Rupsi is genuinely the most efficient way to begin the journey.

Staying on top of your flight information is an important habit for any traveller and it becomes even more important when you are flying from a smaller regional airport where schedules can sometimes shift. 

For arrivals at Rupsi Airport, you can check the live status of incoming flights by using filters such as terminal name and airline name on the arrivals page and all flight delays and cancellations are updated in real time so you always have the most current information available.

For departures, the RUP departures page displays live departure times, gate details and up-to-date flight status so you can time your journey to the airport accurately. If you need to track a specific flight, you can search by entering the flight number or by selecting the airline name along with the date of travel. 

After landing at Rupsi Airport, passengers should follow the airport signage towards the baggage claim area and wait at the designated belt for their luggage. Since Rupsi currently operates as a domestic airport, international arrival procedures do not apply at this time, although passengers should always carry their identification and boarding pass for verification at any stage of the journey.

Every good trip begins with a clear and confident plan and that plan almost always starts with sorting out your flights. Whether you are travelling to Rupsi for work, visiting family in lower Assam or heading out to explore the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks nearby, finding the right flight at the right price makes the whole experience better from the very beginning.

Flightsmojo gives you a straightforward way to search for your air ticket, compare available routes and timings and complete your flight booking without any unnecessary steps. 

Because Rupsi currently operates a focused set of routes, using a platform that brings all available options together in one clear view helps you make a well-informed decision rather than guessing at the best choice. 

If you are looking for a cheap flight ticket to or from RUP airport, searching early and comparing fares through Flightsmojo is the most reliable approach to finding an affordable flight that fits your schedule and your budget. Your journey to or from one of northeast India's most important regional airports deserves to start on the right note and it can.