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The airline said in a statement on Thursday that the new routes will support tourism, trade and cultural exchange. (Photo: Air India Express) 


Indian low-cost carrier Air India Express has announced that it will launch direct flights between Northeast India and Gulf countries in August, the first of its kind. 

According to Arab News, Gulf countries consistently feature in the top ten destinations for Indian citizens travelling abroad every year, with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia at the top. 

According to official data, over 14 million Indians visited the region in 2024. 

India Express, the low-cost unit of national carrier Air India, will launch direct flights from Guwahati, the largest city in northeast India, to Dubai and Abu Dhabi on August 4 and 7 to improve regional connectivity.

The airline said in a statement on Thursday that the new routes will support tourism, trade and cultural exchange, bringing northeast India closer to global markets and opportunities. 

This will be the first time that Guwahati International Airport will be directly connected to a Gulf country, where around 9 million Indian citizens live and work. 

Many passengers from eastern and northeastern parts of India have traditionally relied on major airports like Delhi for international travel. 

Air India Express added that "these services are a major milestone in expanding international travel options and strengthening global connectivity for the region."

The airline also announced new flights to Abu Dhabi from Mumbai's new international airport, Navi Mumbai, in July, adding to its extensive network connecting India and West Asia. 

Recently, Indian airlines have stepped up efforts to meet the growing demand for flights to the Gulf. 

Earlier this month, Riyadh Air and Air India announced a new partnership under which interline and codeshare agreements could be in place soon. 

This follows the codeshare agreement between Air India and Saudia signed in February this year.