Greece is fast becoming a top-tier destination for Indian travelers as direct flights from New Delhi and Mumbai to Athens take off in 2026. With Aegean Airlines and IndiGo Airlines leading the charge, the Hellenic nation is rapidly gaining visibility across India’s high-potential tourism market. The aviation developments are part of a broader strategy to increase air accessibility, promote Greece’s sun-and-sea experiences, and integrate more deeply with India’s dynamic outbound travel economy.

In a major development that highlights the deepening ties between Greece and India, both Aegean Airlines and IndiGo will introduce direct flights between Athens and two of India’s largest cities, New Delhi and Mumbai, starting in early 2026. These routes signify a turning point for Greek tourism, as India overtakes China in long-haul travel demand to Europe. The expansion signals a new strategic axis in global tourism, linking South Asia and Southern Europe through premium aviation corridors.

The flights will help stimulate not only leisure tourism but also destination weddings, conferences, spiritual retreats, and multi-country tour circuits. The timing aligns with a major surge in outbound Indian travel expected in 2025–2026, according to recent studies by INSETE, Greece’s Tourism Research Institute. These studies reveal that over 72% of Indian travelers intend to go abroad in 2025, a higher percentage than even the United States and Canada. Greece’s appeal—ranging from iconic islands like Santorini to heritage cities like Corfu and Thessaloniki—is perfectly positioned to meet this demand.

Aegean Airlines has confirmed that it will launch five weekly direct flights from Athens to New Delhi starting March 2026, followed by three weekly flights to Mumbai from May 2026. These routes will be served by the new Airbus A321neo XLR aircraft, designed for extended-range comfort and efficiency. These aircraft feature only 138 seats in total, with 24 premium business class suites offering lie-flat beds, high-definition entertainment, satellite Wi-Fi, and USB-C power outlets. This elite cabin configuration is intended to cater to high-spending Indian travelers seeking superior onboard experiences. Economy class travelers will also enjoy modern comforts including 4K personal screens, oversized overhead bins, and ergonomic seating.

The A321neo XLR aircraft deliveries are scheduled for December 2025 and January 2026, giving Aegean ample time to launch sales and route promotions by late September 2025. The Greek national carrier has also signed a representation partnership with Bird Travels in India, which will provide comprehensive GSA services across New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This includes ticketing, marketing, customer support, and B2B sales among Indian travel agents. Through this partnership, Aegean is ensuring a localized, professional foothold in India’s complex and competitive travel market.

Meanwhile, IndiGo, India’s largest airline by passenger volume and fleet size, is also entering the Athens market by March 2026. As part of its European expansion strategy, IndiGo plans to add Athens to its growing list of international destinations. This includes newly announced services to Amsterdam, Manchester, Nairobi, Jakarta, and Seoul. These launches are being facilitated by the arrival of Airbus A321XLR aircraft in 2026 and leased widebody jets that allow the airline to reach destinations over 8,000 kilometers from India.

IndiGo’s network expansion into Greece underscores a new aviation philosophy by the carrier—one that extends beyond low-cost, short-haul domestic flights and embraces longer, more lucrative international corridors. By leveraging fleet modernization and long-haul aircraft capabilities, IndiGo can now serve Indian diaspora, leisure tourists, and business travelers directly from India to Southern Europe. The move is particularly strategic as it opens up a high-volume, cost-efficient pipeline between India and key tourism economies like Greece, Italy, and Croatia.

The broader geopolitical and tourism implications are significant. Greece’s jump in India’s tourism preference ranking—from 39th place in 2024 to 26th in 2025—illustrates the country’s improved perception among Indian travelers. This rise comes amid shifting preferences among Indian outbound tourists, who are increasingly drawn to sun-soaked destinations, coastal resorts, and nature-based experiences. Greece, with its world-famous islands such as Mykonos, Rhodes, and Crete, fits squarely within these trends. More importantly, Greece offers rich historical and spiritual resonance, from ancient temples to Byzantine monasteries—attributes that align well with the cultural curiosity of Indian tourists.

Air connectivity is the critical enabler of this growing bilateral travel relationship. With direct flights in place, travel times will reduce significantly—from over 12 hours with stopovers to just over 8 hours non-stop. This ease of access will likely increase the appeal of Greece as a wedding and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) destination among India’s luxury and corporate travel segments. Moreover, Indian film and television producers—always on the lookout for exotic backdrops—may see increased incentives to shoot in Greece as accessibility improves.

The timing of this development coincides with robust growth in the Indian aviation market. Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is now ranked among the world’s ten busiest airports. India’s overall air passenger market is expected to surpass 600 million travelers annually by 2030, creating enormous outbound tourism potential. The increasing affluence of Indian middle-class travelers, coupled with a strong digital travel ecosystem, further strengthens the case for direct Greece–India air links.

Aegean Airlines is also exploring codeshare and interline agreements with Indian carriers, including Air India and IndiGo, to facilitate easier domestic connections from tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India. Such partnerships could allow travelers from Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, or Kochi to book through-tickets from their hometowns to Greek destinations via Delhi or Mumbai. This would exponentially expand Aegean’s market reach and provide seamless multi-modal travel experiences for Indian customers.

IndiGo’s pricing strategy will likely appeal to the price-sensitive mass market, making Greece accessible to middle-income Indian travelers who were previously deterred by long and expensive stopover flights. The airline’s minimal-frills, high-efficiency model means passengers get the benefit of non-stop service at competitive fares. By contrast, Aegean’s premium service model is designed to attract high-end Indian travelers, NRIs, and professionals who prioritize convenience and comfort. Together, these two contrasting strategies cover the entire spectrum of the Indian outbound travel market—from backpackers and students to luxury seekers and honeymooners.

Greek tourism authorities have welcomed these developments with strategic enthusiasm. The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) has already ramped up its promotional activities in India, attending key travel fairs such as SATTE and partnering with Indian influencers to promote Greek destinations on social media. Popular destinations such as Santorini and Mykonos are already staples among Indian honeymooners and Instagram travelers. However, with direct flights, lesser-known gems like Nafplio, Peloponnese, and Delphi could also witness a surge in interest.

As the countdown to 2026 begins, Greece is investing in readiness measures—from hospitality training tailored to Indian cultural expectations to promoting vegetarian and Jain-friendly cuisine options at major hotels. Tourism stakeholders in Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, and island hotspots are gearing up to handle larger volumes of Indian tourists with personalized service offerings, multi-language support, and new digital travel guides.

In conclusion, the launch of direct air services between Athens and India’s megacities is not just an aviation milestone—it is a transformative development in Greece–India tourism relations. With premium and budget options now available, improved air access will deepen people-to-people ties, increase tourism revenues, and bolster cultural diplomacy between the two historic civilizations. Whether it’s a yoga retreat overlooking the Aegean, a big fat Indian wedding in Santorini, or a pilgrimage to Mount Athos, Greece is ready to welcome India with open skies and open arms.