Launching a direct international flight service between Bhubaneswar and Dubai on May 15, 2023, was a significant step in boosting tourism and opening up new economic opportunities for both cities.
The state government and the Indian Consulate in Dubai hosted the Odisha Divas cultural festival on May 16 to commemorate the inauguration. Around 1,100 Odia expatriates celebrated the achievement since their long-standing desire for direct service between Dubai International Airport and Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, had been satisfied.
“Congratulating the Odisha Government on this landmark step towards improving Odisha’s global connectivity, Consulate General of India in Dubai Dr. Aman Puri spoke about how the direct connectivity between Dubai and Odisha will create unparalleled opportunities for the State,” tweeted Naveen Patnaik, the state’s chief minister.
The Chief Minister claimed that the new link was crucial since there are over 100,000 Odia people living in the UAE. In 2022, on his first official visit to Dubai, he pledged to start direct flights between these cities.
On May 16, he waved off the first flight, leaving Bhubaneswar with a delegation of notable athletes, representatives from several governmental agencies, and students from the Skill Development and Technical Education Department, Odisha.
The flights provided by Indigo Airlines will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays three times each week. The sector’s introductory fare has been set at US$121 (444 AED).
