Indore-Abu Dhabi flight to take off from July 15

Indore: After a four-and-a-half-month suspension, international air travel will resume from Indore.Beginning July 15, Air India Express will operate direct flights between Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, establishing a gateway to the United Arab Emirates and beyond.Chief minister Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the service during a ceremony at the old terminal, while passengers will board the aircraft from the current operational terminal. Collector Shivam Verma finalized logistical arrangements during a review meeting with airport and airline executives.The new route replaces the previously suspended Sharjah service, which faced multiple operational delays. Aviation experts and local trade bodies note that while Dubai-bound commuters will now face an additional 140-km overland transit from Abu Dhabi, the shift offers strategic advantages.Zayed International Airport operates as a major global transit hub, providing connecting flights to more than 80 cities across Europe, North America, and the Middle East without requiring layovers at congested domestic hubs like Delhi or Mumbai.According to Hemendra Singh Jadaun, state president of Travel Agents Association of India, Abu Dhabi offers a more streamlined and less congested layout compared to Sharjah, providing superior logistics for business professionals, students, tourists, and non-resident Indian families across Madhya Pradesh.The non-stop service will operate four days a week under a fixed seasonal schedule.