IndiGo is preparing to make history as the first airline from India to offer a direct connection to Greece, bringing Athens and the Aegean islands closer to Indian travellers. The carrier will deploy its newly acquired Airbus A321 XLR on the route, enabling non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai to the Greek capital from January 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
The A321 XLR, designed for extended ranges of up to 8,700 kilometres, allows narrow-body aircraft to reach destinations across Southern Europe that were previously only accessible via stopovers. IndiGo’s configuration includes economy seating and its premium business class, IndiGoStretch, combining efficiency with comfort.
“This is a major step in expanding India’s air connectivity with Europe,” said Pieter Elbers, IndiGo CEO. “Direct flights to Athens cater to both business and leisure travellers while providing easy access to Greece’s iconic islands, including Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete, as well as other European cities.”
Athens becomes the first destination for IndiGo’s A321 XLR operations, part of a broader plan to launch ten new international routes this financial year. With three weekly non-stop services planned from both Delhi and Mumbai, the airline is positioning itself as a cost-efficient option for India-Europe travel, leveraging its fleet of 400 aircraft—349 operational and 51 grounded as of September 2025.
The expansion reflects growing demand for India-Europe aviation connections, driven by both business travel and leisure tourism. IndiGo currently operates approximately 2,200 daily flights across 90 domestic and 40 international destinations, and the Athens service marks a notable milestone in its international strategy.
