UAE travel: This Indian airline just launched new direct flights to Abu Dhabi
Fly nonstop from Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam starting mid-June with IndiGo
DUBAI: IndiGo, India’s most prominent budget carrier, is expanding its network once again – this time with the addition of two new nonstop services from Abu Dhabi to India’s eastern powerhouses.
The airline has confirmed the launch of direct flights to Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam, set to begin in mid-June 2025, right in time for the busy summer travel season. These routes mark a milestone in regional air travel and are expected to facilitate smoother mobility between the UAE and eastern India, benefitting tourists, students, professionals, and the vast diaspora.
Flights to Bhubaneswar, Odisha’s vibrant capital city known for its spiritual significance and growing tech landscape, will start on Tuesday, June 12. Operating thrice a week – on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays – the outbound flight from Abu Dhabi (6E 1441) departs at 2:35 AM and lands in India at 8:35 AM. The return flight (6E 1442) departs BBI at 9:35 AM, arriving in the UAE capital at 12:35 PM.
Meanwhile, flights to Visakhapatnam – a scenic port city hugged by the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal – will commence on Friday, June 13. Four weekly services on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays will see flight 6E 1443 leave AUH at 2:35 AM, touching down in VTZ at 8:20 AM. The return, 6E 1444, takes off at 9:45 AM and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 12:30 PM.
| Flight No. | Origin | Destination | Frequency | Effective | Departure | Arrival |
| 6E 1441 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Bhubaneswar (BBI) | Tue, Thu, Sat | June 12, 2025 | 2:35 AM | 8:35 AM |
| 6E 1442 | Bhubaneswar (BBI) | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Tue, Thu, Sat | June 12, 2025 | 9:35 AM | 12:35 PM |
| 6E 1443 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Visakhapatnam (VTZ) | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun | June 13, 2025 | 2:35 AM | 8:20 AM |
| 6E 1444 | Visakhapatnam (VTZ) | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun | June 13, 2025 | 9:35 AM | 12:30 PM |
India-Abu Dhabi flights
These additions significantly strengthen IndiGo’s presence in the Gulf region. The airline now operates over 100 weekly flights from India to Abu Dhabi, spread across 15 cities. With the wider UAE in view, IndiGo’s tally reaches a whopping 275 weekly flights from 18 Indian cities – highlighting not just a rising demand but a deepening partnership between India and the UAE in air travel.
Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo’s Head of Global Sales, stated that the expansion aligns with their goal of improving global access and convenience. “We are pleased to announce direct flights from Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam to Abu Dhabi, further growing our international network,” he said, underscoring the airline’s commitment to affordable and timely connectivity.
Travel & trade impacts
The move is expected to have ripple effects across tourism, trade, education, and labour mobility. Both Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam are on the rise as economic and cultural hubs. Bhubaneswar, dubbed the “Temple City”, forms a key part of India’s heritage circuit alongside Puri and Konark, and has a fast-emerging IT and academic scene. Visakhapatnam, on the other hand, balances industrial prowess with natural beauty, boasting one of India’s busiest ports and tourist draws like Kailasagiri and Araku Valley.
For Abu Dhabi, already famed for its cultural landmarks, world-class resorts, and business appeal, the new routes offer an influx of travellers from India’s east, increasing footfall for the city’s growing tourism sector and reinforcing its status as a global aviation hub.