Air India Express Inaugurates Direct Surat-Dubai Flight, Connecting the City of Diamonds to the City of Gold
On the day of the inauguration of Surat Airport’s new international terminal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Air India Express marked a historic milestone by announcing its direct flight between Surat and Dubai. The budget carrier became the first airline to connect these two cities, symbolizing the growing importance of Surat in the aviation landscape.
The inaugural flight, carrying 171 passengers, landed at Dubai International Airport on Sunday. Air India Express, committed to fueling the growth story of Surat, plans to operate four weekly flights on the Surat-Dubai route. The airline currently holds the exclusive position of facilitating international flights from Surat, with a frequency of five weekly flights to Sharjah.
Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, emphasized the significance of Surat and the airline’s commitment to connecting the City of Diamonds to the City of Gold with this historic flight. The move comes as part of the airline’s expansion plans, driven by a new fleet and the growing potential of Surat International Airport.
Singh mentioned the airline’s focus on increasing capacity to the Gulf region, including the UAE, and providing better connectivity to Gulf travelers in different Tier 2 and 3 cities across India. The airline aims to enhance connectivity beyond points in Kerala to other cities in India, catering to the diverse travel needs of passengers from the UAE and the Gulf region.
The India-Dubai air corridor is one of the busiest, given the significant Indian diaspora in the UAE and the popularity of Dubai among Indian tourists. According to Dubai Economy and Tourism figures, India was the top destination for tourists coming to Dubai in the first 10 months of 2023.
Air India Express currently operates numerous flights to various destinations in the UAE, including Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, contributing to the strong air connectivity between India and the Gulf region.
