Odisha CM flags off Bhubaneswar-Abu Dhabi flight
Bhubaneswar, June 12 (UNI) A direct international flight service between Bhubaneswar and Abu Dhabi, operated by IndiGo, was flagged off by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here.
The maiden flight, carrying 180 passengers, took off from BPIA after the Chief Minister formally inaugurated the service, which was launched under the Building Management of Aviation Assets and Network (B-MAAN) initiative.
The new route is expected to enhance international connectivity, boost tourism and trade, and foster cultural exchange between Odisha and the Middle East.
According to BPIA sources, the Bhubaneswar–Abu Dhabi–Bhubaneswar direct flight will operate three times a week — Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Bhubaneswar was previously connected to three international destinations: Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Majhi said the day marked a significant milestone, coinciding with the completion of one year of his government.
He credited the Centre's support under the New Destination Policy for making the direct flight to Abu Dhabi possible.
The Chief Minister noted that about 180 passengers, including some from Kolkata, boarded the inaugural flight from Bhubaneswar to Abu Dhabi.
'With this new direct flight, Odisha will now have stronger connections to the Middle East, which will contribute to the growth of commerce, tourism, industrial investment, and cultural exchange,' the Chief Minister stated.
He also said that, alongside passenger services, cargo services have commenced. On Thursday, 50 tonnes of Amrapali mangoes were exported to Abu Dhabi.
Efforts are underway, he said, to ensure that mangoes and other agricultural products from Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, and Nuapada reach international markets.
The Chief Minister also announced that direct flights from Bhubaneswar to Visakhapatnam would resume.
Highlighting the aviation achievements of his one-year tenure, Majhi said flight services from BPIA to Dehradun, Ghaziabad, Indore, Lucknow, and Port Blair have been launched. Additionally, flights from Jharsuguda to Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Raipur have also commenced.
Majhi expressed confidence that BPIA will soon emerge as a major hub for IndiGo, drawing passengers from other cities to connect to a wider range of destinations.
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