Bhubaneswar, Mar 14: In a major boost to Odisha’s global connectivity, direct flight services from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar to United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi is set to begin from June this year.
With this addition, Bhubaneswar will now have direct international flights to four cities: Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, and Abu Dhabi.
Since the commencement of direct flights on Bhubaneswar-Dubai route in May 2023, it has been fully booked, showing a high demand for flights to the Middle East. A similar response is expected for the new Abu Dhabi route.
The direct flights to two major Gulf cities make it easier for travelers from Odisha to reach Europe, North America, and Canada with just one stop, making this a major boost for international travel.
The Odisha government is also improving domestic flights. Starting in April, Bhubaneswar will have direct flights to Ghaziabad (Hindon), Port Blair, and Goa. With these additions, BPIA will offer flights to 28 domestic destinations, with 56 departures and 56 arrivals each day.
In 2024, the airport saw a 26.9% rise in passengers compared to the previous year, though it just missed reaching the five million annual passenger mark.
