Imphal Airport (IMF) in 2026 — Manipur's gateway, the integrated terminal and the 'international' question
By Aarav Sharma (Aarav Sharma writes about Indian airport infrastructure, tier-2 and regional hubs, and the route networks of Indian carriers. He tracks AAI terminal projects, UDAN regional connectivity awards and the Gulf expansion of IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa for FlightGPT readers.) · Published · Last updated · 9 min read
Imphal's Bir Tikendrajit airport is one of the Northeast's busier gateways — with a smart integrated terminal and an 'International' name that, honestly, doesn't yet mean international flights. Here's the 2026 picture.
Quick answer
Imphal's airport is officially Bir Tikendrajit International Airport (IATA IMF, ICAO VEIM), about 8 km from Imphal city — Manipur's primary air gateway and one of the busier airports in Northeast India. It runs a single integrated terminal. Here's the honest part: despite the "International" in its name, as of 2026 Imphal operates domestic flights only — there are no regular scheduled international flights. The carriers are IndiGo, Air India Express, Alliance Air and SpiceJet, flying to Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Imphal's Northeast neighbours and more. Guwahati is the most frequent route. A new integrated terminal and expanded apron lift capacity further. Verify the live schedule on the AAI/airline sites.
Why Imphal matters
Manipur is a hill-and-valley state on India's eastern frontier, and Imphal — its capital, in the central valley — is the obvious air gateway. As with the rest of the Northeast, geography makes flying essential: overland journeys to the rest of India are long, and the terrain and security situation can make road travel slow or unpredictable. So Imphal's flights to Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi carry a lot of weight for residents, students, government and business travellers.
The airport is named after Bir Tikendrajit Singh, a Manipuri prince and hero of the 1891 Anglo-Manipur War. It's historically been one of the more strategically important airfields in the Northeast. For travellers, IMF is the practical entry point to Manipur's valley, the hills, and onward Northeast travel. For wider regional context, our Northeast road-trip guide and the companion Agartala (IXA) guide are useful.
The terminal — integrated and upgrading
Imphal runs a single integrated terminal handling all passenger operations under one roof. It's a modern facility by Northeast standards, and there's been continued investment: a new integrated terminal and an expanded apron are designed to raise peak-hour capacity (to around 1,200 passengers) and support larger aircraft.
For passengers this means a more comfortable, higher-capacity experience than the older setup, though — as at all tier-2 airports — dining and lounge choices are limited. Because the terminal handles everything together and was built with international processing in mind, you may see immigration-style infrastructure that isn't routinely used, given the domestic-only reality (more on that next).
The 'International' label — an honest note
This is the single most important thing to be clear about: Bir Tikendrajit "International" Airport does not, as of 2026, operate regular scheduled international flights. The "International" in the name reflects status and ambition (and the Act East / Look East policy aspiration to connect Imphal to Southeast Asia, for example Mandalay in Myanmar) rather than a live international route map.
In practice, all flights to and from Imphal are domestic flights within India. To reach another country from Imphal, you connect through a hub like Delhi or Kolkata. Cross-border links to Myanmar have been discussed as part of regional connectivity plans, but the security and operational situation along that frontier has made consistent international service hard to establish. Don't book assuming an Imphal international flight without verifying it actually operates.
Routes and airlines — the 2026 network
As of 2026, Imphal's domestic network spans four carriers — IndiGo, Air India Express, Alliance Air and SpiceJet — across roughly ten city pairs. Typical non-stop routes include:
- Guwahati — by far the busiest route, the regional hub link (around 30 flights a week).
- Kolkata — the main gateway eastward to the rest of India.
- Delhi — the northbound trunk.
- Bengaluru — south-India link for students and IT workers.
- Intra-Northeast points such as Agartala, Silchar and Dimapur depending on schedule.
Note that schedules in Manipur have, at times, been affected by the local situation, so frequencies can change at short notice — verify before travel. Compare options on FlightGPT.
Getting to and from the airport
IMF is only about 8 km from Imphal city — a short 15-20 minute drive in normal conditions.
- Taxi — the main option; arrange through the prepaid counter or your hotel.
- App cabs / shared taxis — availability is limited compared with a metro; pre-arrange where you can.
- Local conditions: check the current local situation before travel, as it can affect road movement and timings around the city.
Practical tips for flying IMF in 2026
- It's domestic-only: despite the name, don't plan an international flight out of Imphal — connect via Delhi or Kolkata.
- Guwahati is your hub: the most frequent and reliable link for onward Northeast and India-wide travel.
- Schedules can shift: verify your flight close to departure, as Manipur services have at times been affected by the local situation.
- Short transfer, but check conditions: the airport is close to town, but confirm road movement is normal before cutting it fine.
- As of 2026, verify on the AAI Imphal page and airline sites for the latest schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IATA code for Imphal airport?
Imphal's airport — Bir Tikendrajit International Airport — uses the IATA code IMF (ICAO: VEIM). It is about 8 km from Imphal city, the capital of Manipur.
Does Imphal airport have international flights?
No. Despite the 'International' in its name, as of 2026 Imphal operates domestic flights only — there are no regular scheduled international flights. To fly abroad, you connect through a hub such as Delhi or Kolkata.
Which airlines fly from Imphal?
As of 2026 four carriers serve Imphal: IndiGo, Air India Express, Alliance Air and SpiceJet, across about ten city pairs. Guwahati is the most frequent route with roughly 30 flights a week.
How far is Imphal airport from the city?
Imphal airport (IMF) is only about 8 km from the city centre — a short 15-20 minute drive in normal conditions.
What are the main routes from Imphal?
Typical non-stop routes as of 2026 include Guwahati (the busiest), Kolkata, Delhi and Bengaluru, plus intra-Northeast points such as Agartala, Silchar and Dimapur depending on the schedule.
Why is it called an 'International' airport if there are no international flights?
The 'International' designation reflects status and Act East policy ambitions to connect Imphal to Southeast Asia (for example Myanmar), plus terminal infrastructure built for international processing. As of 2026 those international routes are not operating regularly — verify before planning around one.