Air India Express Has Opened a Direct Indore-Abu Dhabi Route, Central India's First Gulf Connection From the City

Air India Express started direct flights between Indore and Abu Dhabi from 1 September 2026, operating as flights IX247 outbound and IX248 on the return, part of a wider expansion that also added six new domestic destinations to the airline's network the same day. The route gives central India a Gulf connection that previously required a change of flights through Delhi, Mumbai or another metro hub, and it lands Indore travellers in one of the busier international transit points for onward connections across the Middle East, Europe and beyond.

What the route looks like

The flight covers the roughly 2,600-kilometre sector in about three hours and fifteen minutes each way. Scheduled departure and arrival times have varied slightly since launch as the airline settles the route into its network, so travellers should check current timings directly with Air India Express or a booking platform rather than relying on a fixed schedule.

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Why it matters for central India

Indore is one of Madhya Pradesh's largest cities and a significant base for the state's sizeable expatriate community working in the Gulf, many of whom previously had to connect through Delhi or Mumbai for any Gulf-bound flight. A direct Abu Dhabi service cuts that journey to a single leg and, through Abu Dhabi's onward network, opens easier connections to destinations across the Middle East, Africa and Europe without a second domestic transfer first.

Part of a broader network push

The Indore-Abu Dhabi route launched alongside six new domestic routes for Air India Express from 1 September 2026, part of the airline's continued expansion of its network from India's smaller and mid-sized cities rather than concentrating growth solely on the four largest metros.

Traveller tips

• The route began 1 September 2026; frequency and exact timings should be confirmed directly with Air India Express before booking, as schedules on new routes can shift in the first months.
• Abu Dhabi's airport offers connections onward across the Gulf, Europe and Africa for travellers using this as a transit point rather than a final destination.
• Always confirm current visa requirements for the UAE and any onward destination on official government or airline sources before travelling.