Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s only direct air link to Dubai may soon be discontinued, with IndiGo reportedly planning to withdraw the service from October 24.
Currently, the airline operates the Bhubaneswar–Dubai flight three times a week from Biju Patnaik International Airport. However, the latest schedule released by aviation analytics platform AeroRoutes does not list the route beyond October.
If withdrawn, passengers travelling from Odisha to Dubai will have to rely on connecting services, including the recently launched Bhubaneswar–Abu Dhabi flight, before flying onward to Dubai.
The Bhubaneswar–Dubai service was launched on May 21, 2023, amid much fanfare, when then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off the inaugural flight. The route was hailed by the Odia diaspora in the UAE for providing travel convenience, while also boosting tourism, trade, and investment opportunities between Odisha and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Odisha’s international connectivity has seen recent additions. On June 12, 2025, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi inaugurated a direct flight to Abu Dhabi, further strengthening links to the Gulf. The IndiGo flight (6E 1441) leaves Bhubaneswar at 9:35 am and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 12:35 pm local time, with the return flight scheduled to land in Bhubaneswar at 8:35 am.
Dubai, however, remains a critical hub for travel and commerce, especially for the Odia expatriate community. Reports of the direct flight’s discontinuation have therefore sparked disappointment among frequent flyers and business stakeholders who viewed the route as a vital gateway to the Middle East.
