Naveen Patnaik flags off maiden Bhubaneswar-Dubai direct flight

Highlighting the benefits of aligning Odisha with a global travel junction such as Dubai, Patnaik said that global connectivity is a crucial driver of overall developments.

He said Dubai is a major travel and tourism junction in the middle east providing a gateway to the European and US markets.

"This marks a new chapter scripted in Odisha’s stride towards global connectivity," the Chief Minister said adding the connectivity will usher growth, be it industrial development, facilitating investments, promoting tourism, or establishing communication for the Odia diaspora residing outside India.

To mark the occasion, delegates from Odisha including leaders and members of Mission Shakti, delegations from the World Skill Centre, Special Development Council, Panchayati Raj, and celebrated sportspersons, boarded the flight with the rest of the travellers.

A total of 170 people including the aircraft crew travelled on this maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai.

Special arrangements were made to see off the travellers from Odisha. The flyers were felicitated with Uttariya, Odisha Tourism kit bag and offered sweets and flowers by the hostesses at the departure terminal.

The travellers who arrived via the first direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar were given a warm welcome in the presence of state Tourism Minister Aswini Kumar Patra and Commerce & Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu.

Patnaik made a commitment back in June 2022 during the Odisha Investors’ Meet held in Dubai to establish international flight connectivity between Odisha and Dubai in the first phase.

These flights, being operated by Indigo Airlines, will run thrice a week.

The Odisha government is also working towards establishing direct flight connectivity with the Southeast Asian markets through Singapore and Bangkok, which will commence in early June 2023.