Bhubaneswar: The long-pending demand of people for a direct flight connecting Surat and Bhubaneswar is set to be realized soon as national flag carrier Air India is set to start its direct flight from Bhubaneswar to Surat from January 20.
Confirming this, Ministry of Civil Aviation Joint secretary Usha Padhee tweeted that the A321 AI flight will leave Biju Patnaik International Airport at 8.40 am and reach Surat International Airport at 10.40 am.
Long pending demand of #Odisha for air connectivity between #Bhubaheshwar & Surat would be fulfilled very soon. Tnx to @airindiain for commencing this flight on 20th January’20. pic.twitter.com/ZwJZUhXy8X
— Usha Padhee (@ushapadhee1996) December 29, 2019
The flight will operate between Bhubaneswar and Surat on Mondays and Thursdays and from Surat on Fridays and Sundays. It will leave Bhubaneswar at 8.40 am and from Surat at 8.30 am, according to reports.
Notably, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier demanded the Centre for the introduction of a direct flight service between Bhubaneswar and Surat.
In his letter to the Civil Aviation Ministry, Naveen pointed out that a large number of Odias who have settled and are engaged in various spheres of trade and commerce and industry in Surat face a lot of difficulties while travelling to Odisha. So, air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Surat will not only cater to the requirement of the people from Odisha residing in Surat but also increase the tourist inflow to both the places.