Bhubaneawar, May 15: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday flagged off the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here.
“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,” said Patnaik.
Dubai is a major travel and tourism junction in the Middle East providing gateway to the European and the US markets.
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 Niwas earlier in the day, boarded the flight with the rest of the travelers who had booked their tickets after the ticket sale went live on Utkal Dibasa on April 1.
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 travelers from Odisha. The flyers were felicitated with Uttariya, Odisha Tourism kit bag and offered sweets and flowers by the hostesses at the departure terminal.
Meanwhile, the travelers who arrived via the first direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar were given a warm welcome in presence of Minister Tourism & OLLC Aswini Kumar Patra and Hon’ble Minister Commerce & Transport Tukuni Sahu.
These flights, being operated by Indigo Airlines, will run thrice a week. 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.
