Air India Express is Official Travel Partner for Hornbill Festival 2025
Move to boost tourism to Nagaland
The Government of Nagaland has partnered with Air India Express as the Official Travel Partner for the upcoming Hornbill Festival 2025. The collaboration highlights the carrier’s efforts to promote cultural tourism under its ‘Tales of India’ initiative.
The Government of Nagaland has announced that Air India Express, a low-cost subsidiary of Air India, as the Official Travel Partner for the Hornbill Festival 2025, one of India’s most prominent celebrations of tribal heritage, music, cuisine, and traditions.
In a press statement, Air India Express says that the collaboration reflects the airline’s effort to forge meaningful connections through people, places, and stories, while showcasing India’s cultural diversity under its Tales of India initiative.
Air India Express says that the announcement was jointly made by Abu Metha, advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, and Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, at the airline’s headquarters on Monday.
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It adds that as Nagaland prepares to host visitors from across India and abroad for the Hornbill Festival 2025, Air India Express is adding to the celebrations with the arrival of its new Boeing 737-8 aircraft, VT-BWD, featuring a livery inspired by the traditional Ao Naga Tsüngkotepsü design, a symbol of pride and heritage. The aircraft will be received by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at Dimapur Airport on November 22.
According to the statement, the airline will facilitate the travel of artists and organisers, set up a dedicated Hornbill experience kiosk at Dimapur Airport, and offer a 15 pc discount on flights to Dimapur booked between November 20 and 30 for travel until December 15 using the code Hornbill.
Air India Express, which connects Dimapur to Guwahati with daily services and onward links to major cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata, says it continues to showcase India’s cultural richness through its Tales of India initiative. The airline’s fleet highlights art forms such as Akyobi, Moirang Phee, Gamosa, and Puanchei from the Northeast, celebrating local craftsmanship and culture in the skies as part of its broader campaign, ‘Xplore More, Xpress More’
“Nagaland is pleased to welcome Air India Express as the Official Travel Partner for Nagaland Tourism and the Hornbill Festival. This collaboration marks an important step in strengthening connectivity, enhancing visitor experiences, and showcasing Nagaland to the rest of the country and the world. It is a welcome corporate partnership, and we look forward to the contributions of Air India Express towards our collective vision of nation building. Together, we aim to create greater opportunities for tourism, cultural exchange, and economic growth in the Land of Festivals,” says Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister, Nagaland.
“We are delighted to partner with the Government of Nagaland for this year’s Hornbill Festival, a vibrant celebration of culture, music, and heritage. Under our overarching Tales of India initiative, we celebrate the diverse cultural heritage and indigenous arts of our country. The Hornbill Festival reflects the spirit, artistry, and colours of the region like no other,” says Singh of Air India Express.
“The Tsüngkotepsü livery on our new Boeing 737-8 is a tribute to the rich artistic legacy of Nagaland, while also marking the first aircraft in our fleet to feature our newly retrofitted cabin. We look forward to welcoming guests to the Land of Festivals and supporting Nagaland’s growth as a cultural and tourism destination,” Singh adds.
