Bhubaneswar: In a move that could disrupt travel for thousands of Odia expatriates and impact Odisha’s international connectivity, IndiGo Airlines is set to suspend its direct flights from Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport to Dubai and Singapore starting late March.
This marks the third such disruption in under a year for Bhubaneswar’s international operations, following the suspension of the direct flight to Abu Dhabi in December 2025, which was attributed to persistently low passenger demand.
According to recent reports, IndiGo has already ceased online bookings for Bhubaneswar-Dubai route beyond March 30, 2026, and similar restrictions apply to the Singapore service after March 28, 2026.
The impending closures of the Dubai and Singapore routes have triggered widespread concern, particularly among the estimated 40,000 Odias residing in the UAE. These flights, operated three times a week to Dubai and twice weekly to Singapore, serve not only as vital lifelines for expatriates traveling home but also as key conduits for tourism, business, and trade between Odisha and Gulf nations.
Expatriates fear increased travel burdens, including longer layovers and higher costs, if forced to route through major hubs like Delhi or Mumbai. The Odia Samaj UAE, a prominent organisation representing the community, has voiced strong opposition and called for immediate intervention from the Odisha government.
In a letter addressed to Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg, the group highlighted the potential hardships and urged authorities to engage with IndiGo to reverse the decision. They pointed out that a similar suspension planned for the Dubai route in September 2025 was averted through state government efforts, expressing hope for a repeat outcome. At that time the issue was resolved following timely intervention by senior officials of the Odisha government. The proposed discontinuation from March 30 onwards could seriously affect the Odia community in the UAE,” President of Odisha Samaj UAE Amiya Kumar Mishra said.
IndiGo has not issued an official statement detailing the reasons for the latest suspensions, though sources suggest low occupancy levels, similar to those cited for the Abu Dhabi route, could be a factor. The carrier’s decisions reflect broader challenges in sustaining regional international routes amid fluctuating demand.
Meanwhile, flights to Bangkok from Bhubaneswar continue uninterrupted, providing some relief amid the shrinking network.
