Bhubaneswar-Dubai direct flight from Biju Patnaik airport may discontinue from Oct 24

The only direct flight connecting Bhubaneswar to Dubai is likely to be withdrawn from service by IndiGo soon.

At present, the airline runs the service three times a week from Biju Patnaik International Airport, but the updated schedule released by AeroRoutes reportedly omits the Bhubaneswar–Dubai route from October 24.

If this service is discontinued, passengers from Odisha heading to Dubai will have to rely on connecting flights, including the recently introduced Bhubaneswar–Abu Dhabi service, before travelling onward to Dubai.

The Bhubaneswar–Dubai flight was launched with much fanfare on May 21, 2023, when then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the maiden service from Biju Patnaik International Airport. 

The service was welcomed by the Odia diaspora in the UAE as it offered convenience for travel, boosted tourism potential, and created avenues for trade and investment opportunities between Odisha and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Odisha’s international connectivity recently expanded with new flights. On June 12 this year, a direct service from Bhubaneswar to Abu Dhabi was flagged off by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi. 

The Abu Dhabi-bound IndiGo flight (6E 1441) departs Bhubaneswar at 9:35 am and arrives at 12:35 pm local time, with the return journey scheduled at 2:35 am local time and reaching Bhubaneswar by 8:35 am.

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Dubai, considered a strategic hub for travel and trade, served as a vital gateway for Odias living abroad. The service discontinuation reports have come as a setback for many frequent flyers and the business community who relied on the direct connection.