One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
IXA7.4+1.0
DAC6.4
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
IXA6.8+0.4
DAC6.4
Food & retail
Best for
IXA
Domestic trips to/from Agartala / Tripura with a short prepaid taxi hopPriority Pass holders using Primus Lounge after CISF (00:00–23:59 / max 2h)Travellers who want the local AAI field instead of routing everything via Guwahati or Kolkata
Watch out for
IXA
Screenshot IXA ≠ GAU ≠ IMF ≠ AJL ≠ IXS ≠ CCU — wrong North-East / Bengal IATA is a multi-hour road or extra-flight dayDigiYatra only director-claimed in June 2026 press — confirm live app + signage or plan full CISF queuesInternational-ready CIQ rooms ≠ durable daily foreign nonstops — trust the ticket/FIDS
Amenities and tips
IXA
January 2022 integrated terminalPrimus Lounge (Priority Pass)Prepaid taxi & app cabs2,286 m runway 18/36
IXA · AAI-run Tripura capital gateway with a January 2022 integrated terminal about 12 km northwest of Agartala, IndiGo-heavy domestic banks, one live Priority Pass Primus Lounge, and a short prepaid-taxi hop into the city — traded against a single-runway strip, DigiYatra only director-claimed in June 2026 press, and international CIQ rooms that still do not equal durable daily foreign nonstops.
DAC · Bangladesh’s gateway is close enough to the city and well-lounged on Priority Pass, but the 1980s hall is running at about 1.6× its original capacity and Terminal 3 still is not boarding anyone.
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
IXA5.8
DAC6.2+0.4
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
IXA7.0
DAC7.0
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
IXA6.2+0.4
DAC5.8
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
IXA6.6
DAC7.2+0.6
Compact single-hall North-East departures without a mega-hub maze
DAC
Priority Pass on a DAC international (Skylounge / MTB, 24 h)Biman / US-Bangla / Novoair / Air Astra connectionsPrepaid taxi or Pathao when you do not want the curb circus
Single runway 18/36 (2,286 m) — monsoon / North-East weather still needs buffers
DAC
International desks die 60 minutes out — immigration still sits after check-inTerminal 3 is not open (targeted soft opening 16 Dec 2026)No metro into the terminal — MRT Line 1 is construction8 million / 18.5 million leftover capacity quoted as if it were 2025 traffic
Landside F&B / sealed water
Free Wi-Fi / passenger amenities
Compact 2022 hall — still budget one strip and IndiGo-shaped banks
Compact hall helps; one runway and thinner schedules still need buffers.
One 2022 integrated hall — Primus PP pin, no second campus
Single 2022 passenger hall; one live PP soft lounge (Primus).
Primus Lounge if entitled airside — landside sealed water is Plan A
Primus has soft drinks; food and alcohol cost extra.
DAC
Free Wi-Fi (OTP)Four 24-hour PP loungesDuty-free both waysPrepaid taxi + Pathao/UberBaby-care after immigrationPrayer rooms
Three hours for international — desks die at 60 minutes
HSIA closes international check-in 1 hour before departure. Biman asks 3 hours at DAC; boarding gates typically 20 minutes.
T1 arrivals, T2 upstairs departures — no T3
International arrivals and departures share one building. T3 is construction; the 16 December 2026 date is a targeted soft opening, not a live hall.
Refill at boarding-bridge washrooms — no posted bottle tariff
HSIA puts a washroom beside every boarding bridge. Filtration is unpublished. Lounge water is the quality pick if you already hold access.
