Alliance Air (India) (9I, Delhi International) launched a new route connecting Guwahati and Pasighat on May 21, 2018, marking the first scheduled service not just to the latter airport but in general to India's north-westernmost state of Arunachal Pradesh, The Economic Times has reported.

The service will be operated 2x weekly with ATR42-300 equipment. Alliance Air has launched the route under India's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS or UDAN) which aims to boost traffic to under- and unserved airports throughout the country.

Arunachal Pradesh has not seen any scheduled passenger services for a number of years. The state, which is one of India's poorest, is located at the footsteps of the Himalaya and is poorly accessible. In addition, the majority of the state's territory is claimed by China as South Tibet.

Under the guise of the UDAN scheme, other airports in Arunachal Pradesh are set to receive scheduled passenger services in the future, although only Pasighat and Tezu will see fixed-wing operations. Another six airports have been earmarked for helicopter services.

Traffic rights for fixed-wing operations out of Tezu and Pasighat have been awarded to Alliance Air, Zoom Air (India), and TruJet.