Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh condemned the exorbitant airfares on flights to and from Imphal, describing the situation as “daylight robbery.” He highlighted that for over two and a half years, the people of Manipur have been forced to rely solely on air travel due to ongoing road blockades and unrest. Singh pointed out that a 45-minute flight from Imphal to Guwahati costs more than a three-hour flight to Delhi, calling such pricing “unfair and unacceptable.” He urged Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu to take immediate action to rationalize fares and stop airlines from exploiting passengers who have no alternative travel options.

This airfare surge was partly attributed to the withdrawal of certain flights, which increased demand on the remaining routes. Manipur had earlier launched subsidized flights with fares capped at Rs 5,000 under a state scheme, but prices remain high on several routes as the highway blockade continues, severely disrupting connectivity. Local travel agencies confirmed the sharp price hikes concurrent with the surge in travel demand, intensifying the burden on residents dependent on air travel.​