First direct flight between India and Greece now in operation

Passengers at Athens International Airport can now travel directly to Mumbai and Delhi on IndiGo’s new thrice weekly flights between the cities. The inaugural flight departed from Mumbai on 23 January and arrived in Athens on the same day. The first flight connecting Athens with Delhi commenced the following day, 24 January.

The new routes come amid strong growth in passenger numbers at Athens International Airport. Just under 32 million passengers used the airport in 2024, a 13.2% increase from the year before.

A new aircraft

This route represents the first deployment of IndiGo’s new A321XLR aircraft. This represents a shift in the airline’s focus toward expanding its long-range narrowbody operations. With the induction of the A321XLR, IndiGo will be able to operate more flights to Europe while maintaining cost efficiency.

“This momentous development marks the beginning of a new era for IndiGo’s long-range narrowbody operations, making us the only Indian carrier offering direct connectivity between India and Greece,” said IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers. “We are confident that these new routes will play a vital role in strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two ancient civilisations.

“This direct connection will also unlock substantial potential for more bilateral engagements.”

Airline Routes and Ground Services reported in December that this route is one to watch in 2026, as IndiGo is now the only Indian carrier to offer direct flights between India and Greece.

Flights from Athens to Mumbai take just over seven hours, with journeys to Delhi adding roughly half an hour.

The airline’s A321XLR aircraft features 183 Economy Class and 12 Business Class seats. Inflight entertainment is powered by Bluebox.

Passengers can currently fly one-way from Athens to Mumbai for under US$270.

IndiGo’s new flight schedule