Air India Express has announced the launch of direct flights connecting Guwahati with Dubai and Abu Dhabi, becoming the first airline to offer non-stop services between Northeast India and West Asia. The Guwahati-Dubai service will commence on August 4, while the Guwahati-Abu Dhabi flight will begin operations on August 7, expanding international travel options for the region.
The airline said the new services mark its first international operations from Guwahati, one of the largest stations in its network with nearly 120 weekly flights. The direct links to the UAE’s two major commercial and travel hubs are expected to strengthen tourism, trade and cultural exchanges while improving access to global markets for travellers and businesses in Northeast India. Bookings have opened through the airline’s website, mobile app and other booking platforms.
According to the schedule, the Guwahati-Dubai flight will depart every Tuesday at 12:25 pm and arrive at 4:10 pm local time, with the return flight leaving Dubai at 5:10 pm and reaching Guwahati at 12:25 am. The Guwahati-Abu Dhabi service will operate every Friday, departing at 11:30 am and arriving at 3:15 pm, while the return flight will leave Abu Dhabi at 4:15 pm and land in Guwahati at 11:30 pm.
The launch is expected to enhance Guwahati’s position as the aviation gateway to Northeast India by improving international connectivity for business travellers, exporters, students and tourists. Direct access to Dubai and Abu Dhabi could boost trade with the Gulf region, support the tourism and hospitality sectors, and provide greater convenience for the large number of people from the Northeast travelling to the UAE for employment and business opportunities.
With the addition of the two UAE destinations, Air India Express will operate more than 290 weekly flights from four Northeast stations—Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Guwahati and Imphal. The airline also highlighted its ‘Tales of India’ initiative, featuring traditional Northeast motifs such as Assam’s Gamosa and Jaapi, Nagaland’s Tsüngkotepsü, Manipur’s Akyobi, MoirangPhee and SapheeLanphee, Arunachal Pradesh’s Idu Mishmi, Meghalaya’s Khneng and Mizoram’s Puanchei on aircraft tail designs to showcase the region’s cultural heritage globally.