Athens, February 4, 2026 – Athens International Airport (AIA) marked a significant milestone in its connectivity on January 23, 2026, with the inauguration of IndiGo’s first direct flights to Delhi and Mumbai. This development establishes the first direct air links between Athens and India, making IndiGo the first Indian airline to operate scheduled passenger services to the Greek capital.
First-Ever Direct India-Athens Connection with A321XLR
The inaugural flight on January 23, 2026, utilized IndiGo’s state-of-the-art A321XLR aircraft, a narrow-body jet capable of directly connecting India and Europe. This strategic choice by IndiGo underscores its confidence in the Athenian market and highlights the aircraft’s pivotal role in bridging the geographical gap between the two regions.
The launch of these new routes elevates Athens’ direct connections to Asia from four in 2025 to six in 2026, with Delhi and Mumbai becoming the fifth and sixth direct Asian destinations. For 2026, Athens will now have direct connections to Singapore (Scoot), Beijing (Air China), Shanghai (Juneyao), Chengdu (via IST, Sichuan), and now Delhi and Mumbai (IndiGo). Aegean Airlines is also slated to operate its A321XLR to Delhi and Mumbai later in the year, further expanding capacity.
Celebrations and Strategic Partnerships
The inauguration was celebrated with a large-scale event at Athens International Airport, attended by Ministers, Diplomats, and other State Officials, underscoring the national importance of this new air bridge. The day also included a successful press event for IndiGo, drawing over 70 media representatives, and concluded with a dinner under the Acropolis, featuring a unique “dialogue of music” between traditional Indian and Greek instruments, symbolizing the cultural bond between the two civilizations.
Furthermore, Aegean Airlines has entered into a codeshare agreement with IndiGo, which will offer IndiGo passengers convenient connections to major European cities from Athens. Conversely, Aegean passengers will gain access to all major cities in India via Delhi and Mumbai, enhancing travel options for both airlines’ customers.
Significant Market Potential and Future Growth
In 2025, India was Athens’ second-strongest country market in Asia, generating nearly 100,000 origin and destination (O&D) round-trip passengers, all of whom traveled indirectly. This traffic between Athens and India grew by 12% compared to 2019 figures. Delhi and Mumbai collectively account for 65% of this O&D traffic, indicating their strong potential for direct services.
IndiGo plans to operate three weekly frequencies to Delhi and three to Mumbai, utilizing the 195-seat A321XLR. This schedule is projected to offer over 112,000 round-trip seats between Athens and India for the remaining 48 weeks of 2026, significantly boosting capacity and accessibility.
Athens International Airport expressed its gratitude to Pieter Elbers for his “vote of trust” in the Athenian market and to Rashmi Soni and the IndiGo team for their cooperation. The airport has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening this partnership and supporting IndiGo’s developmental plans to and from Athens.
Commitment to Enhanced Connectivity
The introduction of these direct flights is expected to not only facilitate tourism and business travel between Greece and India but also to solidify Athens’ position as a key gateway in Southeast Europe. The airport’s ongoing efforts to expand its route network are part of a broader strategy to enhance global connectivity and economic growth for the city and the country.
The airport community extends warm wishes for safe and full flights and many happy landings to Athens, anticipating a prosperous “Year of India” for the city.
Source: https://www.routesonline.com/airports/2360/athens-international-airport-sa-eleftherios-venizelos/news/299665866/namaste-what-a-great-start-for-2026-the-year-of-india-for-athens-namaste-athens-namaste-greece-yasou-mumbai-yasou-delhi-yasou-india/
