Indore is set to receive a major boost in air connectivity today. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will flag off the state's first international direct flight service between Indore and Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. With this launch, residents of the state will now be able to fly non-stop to Abu Dhabi four days a week.
The inauguration ceremony is being held at the old terminal building of Indore airport, even though the aircraft itself will actually depart from the current terminal. The service is being launched under the banner of Tata group airline Air India, and will be operated by the group's own aviation arm, Air India Express.
Malwa-Nimar region set to benefit directly
This new flight will benefit the large population of the Malwa-Nimar region the most. Until now, passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi have had to route through Delhi or Mumbai, a journey that takes roughly 7 to 8 hours. With the new direct flight, that journey will be completed in about three hours. This is expected to give a boost to trade, investment, tourism and industrial activity in the region.
Abu Dhabi link opens the door to Europe and the US
Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport is counted among the world's major aviation hubs. It offers easy connecting flights to several major cities across Europe, the United States and the Middle East. This means passengers from Indore will now be able to reach Abu Dhabi directly and then continue their onward international journeys with much more convenient connectivity.
Four days a week, here is the full schedule
The flight will depart Indore at 7:50 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while on Sundays it will take off at 8:50 pm. On the return leg, the aircraft will land in Indore at 3:20 am on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while the Sunday return flight will touch down in Indore at 4:20 am.
How much will it cost
The one-way starting fare for this new direct Indore to Abu Dhabi flight has been set at around Rs 12,554. This fare is not fixed, though, and can rise or fall depending on the date of travel, seat availability and how far in advance the booking is made.
Expansion continues under the Civil Aviation Policy 2025
The Madhya Pradesh government is steadily expanding air services across the state under its Civil Aviation Policy 2025. Under this policy, 8 new air routes have been approved so far. Flights have already begun on 4 of these routes, while services on the remaining 4 routes will be started soon.
