The airport has undergone numerous expansions and renovations since its establishment in 1958, to facilitate socio-economic development, growth, connectivity and tourism in the state as well as in North-East India, as a gateway to the region. It handled more than 3.7 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 36% from 2016. The airport witnessed annual traffic of over 23% in 2018–19, with a total footfall of 5.7 million passengers and 55,066 aircraft movements in the same period. In 2023, the airport operated on its highest capacity in terms of passengers and aircraft movements ever since its establishment. It handled more than 5.6 million passengers and 46,600 aircraft till 31 December 2023, with an updated figure due in April 2024, thus almost touching its peak capacity of 6 million passengers per annum.

Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport, Guwahati, recorded significant growth in passenger traffic during 2025, driven by increases in both domestic and international travel. The airport handled a total of approximately 7.01 million passengers during the year.

Domestic traffic accounted for the majority of passengers, with about 3.5 million domestic arrivals and 3.4 million domestic departures. International operations included 45,423 arriving passengers and 45,474 departing passengers, reflecting steady growth in overseas connectivity.

In 2002, the first international flight operated by Air India from the airport to Bangkok, using an Airbus A310 aircraft, thus becoming the first international airport in the North-East region. However, the flight was withdrawn due to poor passenger load. In January 2019, the airport won bids for two international destinations under the government's UDAN Scheme, with destinations most anticipated being Dhaka and Bangkok–Don Mueang. In November 2021, the airport won more bids, this time for six international destinations under the UDAN Scheme – Dhaka, Bangkok–Don Mueang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Yangon.

In February 2019, the airport was given on lease for 50 years' ownership to Adani Group, at the highest bid of ₹ 160 per passenger.

As of February 2024, international flights in the airport are operated by Drukair from Paro to Singapore, as a connecting flight, and by Thai AirAsia to Bangkok–Don Mueang.

To relieve the existing terminal from rising traffic and demand, a new terminal building is under construction since March 2018, and will be completed by July 2024. On 20 December 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new integrated terminal building at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam. Constructed at a cost of approximately ₹4,000 crore, the terminal has an annual passenger handling capacity of 13.1 million and became the largest airport terminal in Northeast India upon inauguration. Spread across 140,000 square metres, the terminal is designed around the theme "Bamboo Orchids", incorporating architectural elements inspired by Assam’s biodiversity and cultural heritage, including locally sourced bamboo, Japi motifs and rhino-inspired designs.