Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has officially initiated efforts to restore direct air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Dubai by floating a formal tender and inviting airline operators to resume the service.
According to the tender documents, the proposed operations require an aircraft with a seating capacity of at least 180 passengers and will run under a state-supported subsidy framework. The selected airline will handle all operational, regulatory, commercial, and safety responsibilities for the route. Services must operate at a minimum frequency of three flights per week and adhere to strict standards set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and other relevant regulations, ensuring safe, reliable, and passenger-focused flights.
The direct Bhubaneswar-Dubai link was launched on May 15, 2023, and previously operated three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The flights were cancelled and ultimately suspended in March 2026 amid escalating tensions in West Asia. IndiGo, which operated the thrice-weekly service, began cancelling individual flights from early March (including the Monday and Wednesday services around March 2-3) due to airspace restrictions and turmoil linked to the regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The disruptions, which affected multiple West Asian routes, led to the full suspension of the direct service later that month.
Officials expect the restoration of the route to support business ties, tourism, and travel for the Odia diaspora and other passengers.