Bhubaneswar: May 15: Odisha and Dubai were connected by air. As of May 15, residents of Odisha can fly directly from their state to Dubai and vice versa. The inaugural flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai was flagged off by the chief minister today at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.
The Chief Minister of Odisha emphasised the advantages of partnering with a major international hub like Dubai, saying that global connectivity is a major factor in overall development, whether it be industrial growth, facilitating investments, promoting tourism, or establishing communication for the Odia diaspora living outside of India.
Dubai serves as a key hub for travel and tourism in the Middle East, offering access to the US and European markets. The CM emphasised that a new chapter will be written in Odisha’s journey towards global connectivity on May 15, 2023.
To commemorate the event, delegates from Odisha boarded the flight along with the other passengers who had purchased tickets after the ticket sale went live on Utkal Dibasa on April 1, 2023. These delegates included leaders and members of Mission Shakti, delegations from the World Skill Centre, Special Development Council, Panchayati Raj, and celebrated sportspersons who were felicitated by the Chief Minister at Naveen Nivas earlier in the day.
To greet the departing travellers from Odisha, special arrangements were made. The hostesses at the departure terminal presented the flyers with Uttariya, Odisha Tourism kit bags as well as sweets and flowers.
These flights will be operated by Indigo Airlines three times per week. In addition, the State Government has worked towards establishing direct flight connectivity with Southeast Asian markets via Singapore and Bangkok, with the inauguration of these flights scheduled for the beginning of June 2023.
