NEW DELHI: Indian budget carrier Air India Express will launch direct flights between northeastern India and the Gulf in August, the airline has said, marking the first route of its kind.
Gulf countries consistently rank among the top 10 destinations for Indians traveling abroad every year, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia topping the list. In 2024, more than 14 million Indian travelers visited the region, official data showed.
Air India Express, a low-cost unit under flag carrier Air India, will launch direct flights between northeast India’s largest metropolis Guwahati and Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Aug. 4 and 7, respectively, as the airline seeks to boost regional connectivity.
“The new routes are expected to support tourism, trade, and cultural exchange, while bringing Northeast India closer to key global markets and opportunities,” the airline said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The new flights mark the first time that Guwahati’s international airport will be directly connected to a country in the Gulf region, where about 9 million Indians live and work.
Many Indian travelers from the country’s eastern and northeastern states have traditionally relied on connecting flights through major airports, such as the one in New Delhi, for international trips.
“The services … (mark) a significant milestone in expanding international travel options and strengthening global connectivity for the region,” Air India Express added.
The airline also announced new flights from Mumbai’s new international airport, Navi Mumbai, to Abu Dhabi in July, adding to its large network connecting India and West Asia.
Indian airlines have recently boosted efforts to meet the growing demand for travel to the Gulf.
Earlier this month, Riyadh Air and Air India announced a new partnership agreement, which could introduce both interline and codeshare arrangements in the near future.
It follows Air India’s codeshare agreement with Saudia, which was announced in February.
India is expected to become the world’s fourth-largest outbound tourism market by 2035, behind the US, China and Germany, the London-based research consultancy Capital Economics said last year.
