In a move that signals both ambition and timing, Greece’s Aegean Airlines is set to roll out direct India-Greece flights from March 2026. While Delhi will see five weekly flights, Mumbai will join the network a little later with three services a week beginning May 2026. The announcement came shortly after Aegean confirmed the induction of two long-range Airbus A321XLR aircraft, scheduled to join its fleet this December and January 2026.
Aegean Airlines Launches Direct India-Greece Flights
According to Business Line, India and Greece upgraded their relationship in 2023, with both countries eyeing deeper ties across economic, defence, and maritime sectors. One outcome of that growing bond is transport connectivity as both sides recognise the potential in this arena, especially with frameworks like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor picking up pace. The move also signals growing confidence in India’s premium outbound travel segment.
Aegean Airlines isn’t entering the Indian market tentatively. Chairman Eftichios Vassilakis called India an “extremely important” market, underlining that the addition of the A321XLR, with its special long-haul configuration, is a game-changer for the airline’s non-European routes.
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Aegean Airlines Faces Competition
But visas still remain a tricky business. Travel industry insiders say that despite growing interest, actual bookings haven’t caught up yet as visa processing schedules are a real headache. It remains an irony that flights may soon get shorter, but paperwork remains stuck in a slow lane.
Interestingly, IndiGo isn’t standing by quietly. The Indian carrier has shown intent to launch its own direct flights to Athens using similar A321XLR jets. No date has been announced yet, but the competition is clearly brewing. So while Aegean might be first off the block, its success depends on staying ahead in the competitive race against IndiGo.
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By launching direct flights, Aegean Airlines isn’t just filling a gap in leisure travel; it is also positioning itself within the growing India-Europe trade corridor.
Experts point out that industries such as pharmaceuticals, information technology, and logistics are now showing growing interest in using Greece as a convenient entry point for expanding their business into the European market. With Athens becoming a transit hub and India-Greece ties expanding beyond tourism, these flights could play a critical role in boosting both passenger and cargo traffic, offering long-term value to both economies.
Cover Image Courtesy: aegeanairlinesairbusa320neo/Wikipedia
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