Uttarakhand CM Inaugurates Air India Express Dehradun-Bengaluru Flight, Boosting Uttarakhand’s Air Connectivity
The inaugural flight, operated with a new Boeing 737-8 aircraft showcasing ‘Aipan’ tail art inspired by Uttarakhand’s traditional art form
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today inaugurated the new direct Dehradun–Bengaluru air service of Air India Express from Jolly Grant Airport, marking a historic milestone in Uttarakhand’s aviation journey. With this, Air India Express has resumed operations from the state, offering daily direct flights to Bengaluru along with 18 convenient one-stop connections to major cities across India.
The Chief Minister flagged off the inaugural flight in the presence of MP Mala Rajyalakshmi Shah, Doiwala MLA Brij Bhushan Gairola, Air India Express Managing Director Alok Singh, and Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority CEO, IAS Ashish Chauhan.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Dhami said: “The launch of Air India Express services from Dehradun is a significant milestone for civil aviation in our state. Improved connectivity to Bengaluru will greatly boost tourism, business and investment opportunities in Uttarakhand, as well as strengthen ties for students, professionals and entrepreneurs with one of India’s most dynamic cities.”
He added that the new service will especially benefit students, IT professionals, entrepreneurs, and thousands of Uttarakhand youth working in Bengaluru’s education, service, and startup sectors.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to strengthen regional connectivity, the CM said that airports in Pithoragarh, Chinyalisaur, Gauchar, and Naini Saini are being activated, while Jolly Grant Airport is being upgraded with international facilities. Expansion of Pantnagar Airport is also progressing rapidly, which will transform air travel in the Kumaon region.
Air India Express MD Alok Singh said: “We are delighted to commence operations from Dehradun, our 58th station, with daily flights to Bengaluru, our largest domestic hub. This new route connects Uttarakhand directly with Bengaluru’s economic and educational ecosystem and offers one-stop connections to 18 more cities across India. With a fleet of over 115 aircraft, we are building a stronger, more accessible network that reflects the aspirations of modern India.”
The inaugural flight, operated with a new Boeing 737-8 aircraft showcasing ‘Aipan’ tail art inspired by Uttarakhand’s traditional art form, departed Dehradun at 16:30 and landed in Bengaluru at 19:30.
Passengers from Dehradun will now have seamless one-stop connectivity to destinations including Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, North Goa, Pune, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam.
As part of its customer initiatives, Air India Express also promotes direct bookings via its website and mobile app, offering benefits such as up to 20% discounts with promo codes, special fares for students, senior citizens and armed forces, discounted pre-booked meals, and exclusive card offers.
The airline also offers curated holiday packages through its Express Holidays platform, making travel more convenient for passengers.
The CM concluded by thanking Air India Express for starting services in Uttarakhand and expressed confidence that more flights to other metros will follow, giving tourism, investment, and employment in the state a major boost.
