By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Air India Express has announced the launch of direct international flights from Guwahati to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, becoming the first airline to offer non-stop services connecting Northeast India with West Asia.
According to the airline, the Guwahati-Dubai service will begin on August 4, while flights between Guwahati and Abu Dhabi will commence on August 7.
The airline said the new routes are expected to improve international connectivity for the region and support tourism, trade and cultural exchange with the United Arab Emirates.
Bookings for both services are now open through the airline’s website, mobile app and other booking platforms.
The Guwahati-Dubai flight will operate every Tuesday, departing Guwahati at 12:25 pm and arriving in Dubai at 4:10 pm. The return flight will leave Dubai at 5:10 pm and reach Guwahati at 12:25 am the following day.
The Guwahati-Abu Dhabi service will operate every Friday, departing Guwahati at 11:30 am and arriving in Abu Dhabi at 3:15 pm. The return flight will depart Abu Dhabi at 4:15 pm and arrive in Guwahati at 11:30 pm.
Air India Express currently operates around 120 weekly flights from Guwahati, making it one of the airline’s largest stations.
With the addition of the two international routes, the airline will operate more than 290 weekly flights from four destinations in Northeast India — Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Dimapur and Imphal.
The airline also said it continues to showcase the cultural heritage of the Northeast through its ‘Tales of India’ initiative, featuring traditional art forms from the region on the tail designs of its aircraft. These include Assam’s Gamosa and Jaapi motifs, along with cultural designs representing Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram.