Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off the maiden flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai at the Biju Patnaik International Airport on Monday evening.
Highlighting the benefits of aligning Odisha with a global travel junction such as Dubai,
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said global connectivity is a key driver of overall development – be it industrial development, facilitating investments, promoting tourism or establishing communication for the Odia diaspora residing outside India.
“Dubai is a major travel and tourism junction in the Middle-East providing gateway to the European and the US markets. This day (15th of May 2023) marks a new chapter in Odisha’s stride towards global connectivity,” he 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 flight with the rest of the travellers.
The chief minister had launched the sale of tickets for the maiden flight on April 1 on the occasion of Utkal Divas. A total of 170 people including the aircraft crew travelled in this flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai.
Special arrangements were made to see off the travellers from Odisha. The flyers were felicitated with Uttariya, Odisha Tourism kit bag and sweets and flowers by the hostesses at the departure terminal.
Meanwhile, the travellers, who arrived in the first direct flight from Dubai to Bhubaneswar earlier in the day, were given a warm welcome in presence of Minister Tourism & OLLC Aswini Kumar Patra and Minister of Commerce & Transport Tukuni Sahu.
It may be noted that the Chief Minister had made a commitment in June 2022 during the Odisha Investors’ Meet held in Dubai to establish international flight connectivity between Odisha and Dubai in the first phase.
These flights, being operated by Indigo Airlines, will run thrice a week. Besides, the state government has 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.
