Bhubaneswar, May 12 -- Bhubaneswar: After the Centre gradually eased air travel restrictions imposed since March 24 to contain the spread of COVID-19, national carrier Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express embarked on repatriating stranded people under India's 'Vande Bharat' evacuation mission.

That which hadn't been possible till now is finally going to happen in the times of COVID-19, as for the first time, a direct flight from Dubai will land at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. This is being done as part of the process to repatriate hundreds of Odias back to where they belong, thanks to the initiation of UAE expatriates.

The AI flight 1996 will depart from Dubai this Thursday (May 14) at around 3 PM and...