India-UAE flights: Indigo starts flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai

India-UAE flights: Indigo starts flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flags off first direct flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai

By PTI Published: Mon 15 May 2023, 7:49 PM Last updated: Mon 15 May 2023, 8:00 PM

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday flagged off the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.

A total of 174 travellers aboard the first direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar, which landed at 4pm, were welcomed by state ministers Aswini Kumar Patra and Tukuni Sahu.

The flight services will be run by IndiGo Airlines thrice a week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The flight will depart Dubai at 11.25am and reach Bhubaneswar at 5.20pm. In the return journey, it will depart the Odisha capital at 6.30pm and reach Dubai at 9.45pm, the official said.

A total of 170 passengers boarded the Dubai-bound flight from Bhubaneswar on Monday. They were presented with 'Uttariya' (traditional stole), sweets and flowers, before the flight took off at 6pm.

Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said aligning Odisha with a global tourism destination such as Dubai will bring in industrial development by facilitating investments, promote tourism and increase connection with the Odia diaspora.

He said Dubai, being a major tourism junction in West Asia, provides a gateway