Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 24: The Odisha government has invited bids from airlines to resume direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Dubai. Notably, the service was suspended in March amid tensions in West Asia.
According to the tender, the selected airline will operate an aircraft with a minimum capacity of 180 seats. This will be under a state-supported subsidy scheme. The operator must run at least three flights a week on the international route.
The selected airline will also be required to meet all regulatory, operation, commercial and safety standards. These include requirements laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other relevant authorities.
The Bhubaneswar-Dubai direct flight service began on May 15, 2023. Flights operated thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Its suspension disrupted a direct air link between Odisha and the United Arab Emirates.
The proposed resumption is expected to benefit passengers travelling for business, tourism and other purposes, while improving international connectivity from Odisha’s capital. The tender process will determine the airline selected to operate the route under the state-backed arrangement.
Meanwhile, direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Bangkok resumed on October 2 after the service had remained suspended since July. The restoration of the Thailand connection, notably, has provided passengers with another international travel option from Bhubaneswar and nearby areas.
