India’s largest carrier, IndiGo Airlines, has confirmed and opened reservations for flights between Bhubaneswar and Dubai.
The maiden international flight from Bhubaneswar will take off from Biju Patnaik International Airport on May 15.
IndiGo says it is working in close collaboration with the Odisha government to reconnect Bhubaneswar to international destinations.
AirAsia and Thai Lion Air have not resumed their pre-Covid routes to the city.
International flights from Bhubaneswar to Singapore and Bangkok will be launched in the near future, IndiGo says, subject to slots and other operational requirements being finalized.
The airline says it recently won a bid to operate direct flights to the three aviation hubs.
As per the agreement, IndiGo will initially operate three times a week on Bhubaneshwar – Dubai.
Vinay Malhotra, Head Global Sales, IndiGo commented: “We are pleased to announce the launch of maiden international flights from Bhubaneswar, enhancing direct connectivity to key international destinations.”
“IndiGo has been at the forefront of enhancing international connectivity at affordable fares. The new direct flights between Bhubaneswar-Dubai will reduce the need for travellers to connect to international destinations through metro cities only. This will not only enable faster connectivity, enhanced accessibility but also encourage trade and tourism in the state.
This partnership between the government and private enterprises is a great example as it will open up new opportunities for economic growth and create efficient ways for people to travel,” he concluded.
Bhubaneswar, also known as “The Temple City of India”, draws pilgrims from all over the world. The city is a domestic tourism hotspot and boasts beautiful temple architecture.
Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is also a major industrial city known for its steel and iron production.
IndiGo is among the fastest growing low-cost carriers in the world.
With its fleet of currently more than 300 aircraft, the airline is operating almost 1800 daily flights and connecting 78 domestic destinations and 26 international destinations.
The airline has 500 additional aircraft on order from Airbus.