IndiGo Airlines is launching direct flights between Athens and Mumbai. Photo of IndiGo Airlines Airbus A320neo F. Credit: BriYYZ Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0
Indian airline IndiGo is commencing direct flights between Mumbai and Athens, strengthening air connectivity between India and Greece as of Saturday, January 24, the carrier has announced.
The airline will operate the Mumbai–Athens route using its new A321 XLR aircraft, becoming the first airline to offer nonstop connectivity between India and Greece. In an official release, IndiGo said it will also connect Athens and Delhi using the same aircraft beginning January 24.
“IndiGo becomes the first Indian carrier to directly connect the two countries, operating three flights per week on each route, with plans to expand connectivity to additional destinations in Greece in due course,” the airline said in its announcement. The A321 XLR aircraft is configured with 12 IndiGoStretch seats and 183 economy-class seats.
India: a new tourism market for Greece
As of 2025, India is the world’s most populous country, with approximately 1.46 billion people, surpassing China. It is also the world’s fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP, making it an increasingly promising market for Greek tourism.
At the “Reimagine Tourism in Greece” conference held in Athens in November and organized by Kathimerini newspaper, Marina Valvi, corporate affairs and communications director at Greece’s Aegean Airlines, said India represents an emerging market for Greek tourism.
“With India’s development and its large population, we now have 7.5 million new potential passengers and clients who could contribute to Greece as tourists,” Valvi said.
Ioanna Papadopoulou, director of communications and marketing at Athens International Airport (AIA), said that 2026 would be “the year of India” for the airport, with Aegean Airlines launching flights to New Delhi and IndiGo beginning services in January 2026.
“The development of new routes and markets is ambitious and necessary, but geopolitical and macroeconomic factors must also be taken into account,” Papadopoulou said. “Destinations need sufficient aircraft capacity to operate flights to Greece—otherwise, it is pointless.” Papadopoulou also noted that New Delhi has the potential to function as a connecting hub, adding that IndiGo’s market entry could generate a multiplier effect.
Relations between the two nations
In Greece’s rapidly expanding tourism market, which continues to set new arrival records each year, visitors from India represent a particularly promising segment. With the launch of direct flights between India and Greece, Indian travelers now have easier access to Greece’s cultural and historic destinations, making the tourism potential even stronger. Combined with longstanding cultural ties between the two countries, increased tourism from India seems increasingly likely.
According to Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greek-Indian cultural relations date back approximately 3,000 years. These ties are reflected in numerous cultural activities, including special events, film festivals, book launches, recitals, theatrical performances, and exhibitions. Additionally, several associations and unions in both Greece and India remain actively engaged in social and cultural initiatives.
Cultural and educational cooperation between Greece and India is governed by a bilateral Cultural Agreement, implemented through three-year executive programs. Notably, Greek language, history, and philosophy are studied at Indian universities through dedicated academic chairs and departments.
University-level collaboration also includes the Chair of Greek Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and partnerships with the Athens University of Economics and Business, underscoring the depth and continuity of Greece–India relations.