Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday flagged off the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.
Highlighting the benefits of aligning Odisha with a global travel junction such as Dubai, Naveen said that global connectivity is a key driver of overall developments — be it industrial development, facilitating investments, promoting tourism or establishing communication for the Odia diaspora residing outside India.
“The 15th day of May 2023 marks a new chapter scripted in Odisha’s stride towards global connectivity,” Naveen said.
“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, who were felicitated by the chief minister at Naveen Nivas earlier in the day, boarded the flightwith the rest of the travellers who had booked their tickets after the ticket sale went live on Utkal Dibasa on 1st April 2023.
“A total of 170 people including the aircraft crew travelled on this maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai. The flyers were felicitated with Uttariya, Odisha Tourism kit bag and offered sweets and flowers by the hostesses at the departure terminal,” said a press release issued by the chief minister’s office (CMO).
Meanwhile, the travellers who arrived here via the first direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar on Monday were given a warm welcome in the presence of tourism minister Aswini Kumar Patra and commerce and transport minister Tukuni Sahu.
These flights, being operated by Indigo Airlines, will run thrice a week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
It is pertinent to note that the chief minister made a commitment back in June 2022 during the Odisha Investors’ Meet held in Dubaito establish international flight connectivity between Odisha and Dubai in the first phase.
Besides, the state government has also worked towards establishing direct flight connectivity with the Southeast Asian markets through Singapore and Bangkok, with the commencement of these flights scheduled from early June 2023.
