Guwahati

Air India will begin operating direct international flights from Guwahati to Dubai and Abu Dhabi from August 4, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday.

Sharing the development on social media platform X, Sarma said the new services would significantly strengthen Assam’s international connectivity and help position Guwahati as a major gateway to Southeast Asia and beyond.

“With the launch of these flights, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport will have direct international connectivity to four countries — the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Singapore, and Bhutan,” he said.

The chief minister noted that the announcement comes shortly after member states of the European Union lifted travel advisories related to Assam, a move he said reflects growing international confidence in the state as a tourism and business destination.

Sarma also revealed that the state government is now working towards securing direct air connectivity between Guwahati and Vietnam.

“My next goal is to commence direct services to Vietnam, and I will keep you posted on that,” he said.

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The new routes are expected to benefit business travellers, tourists, students and the large expatriate population from Northeast India living and working in the Gulf region, while also enhancing Assam’s role as a regional aviation hub.