Air India Express has commenced operations from Dehradun Airport with the launch of daily direct flights to Bengaluru. The first flight on the Dehradun–Bengaluru route was flagged off by Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, in the presence of other dignitaries.

Welcoming Air India Express to Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister, said, “The start of Air India Express services from Dehradun marks an important milestone for civil aviation in our state. Enhanced connectivity to Bengaluru will provide a significant boost to tourism, trade, and investment opportunities in Uttarakhand, while also strengthening links for students, professionals, and entrepreneurs with one of India’s most dynamic cities. We welcome Air India Express and look forward to the positive impact this connectivity will bring to our people and economy.”

With this launch, guests from Dehradun gain convenient one-stop connectivity to 18 destinations including Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, North Goa, Pune, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam through Bengaluru.

Commenting on the occasion, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “We are delighted to commence operations from Dehradun, our 58th station, with daily direct flights to Bengaluru, our largest domestic hub. This is the third new station launched this month, following Ahmedabad and Chandigarh, underscoring the rapid expansion of our network. The new route not only connects Uttarakhand directly with Bengaluru’s economic and educational hubs but also offers convenient one-stop connections to 18 more cities across India. With our fleet now crossing 115 aircraft, we are scaling up, building a stronger, more accessible network that reflects the aspirations of modern India.”

As part of its ‘Tales of India’ initiative celebrating the country’s diverse art and culture, the new Boeing 737-8 aircraft deployed to operate the first flight from Dehradun proudly features a livery inspired by ‘Aipan,’ Uttarakhand’s traditional art form of floor and wall paintings.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, and AEGEAN, Greece’s flag carrier, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a codeshare partnership aimed at strengthening connectivity between India, Greece and Europe. The cooperation, subject to regulatory approvals, will enable both airlines to place their codes on each other’s flights, broadening travel options and offering integrated itineraries for customers.

As part of their expansion plans, IndiGo has announced direct services to Athens beginning in January 2026 with six weekly flights. AEGEAN, in turn, will commence operations to India from March 2026, starting with five weekly flights to Delhi and later adding three weekly flights to Mumbai.

Under the proposed agreement, AEGEAN’s “A3” code will be placed on multiple IndiGo routes across India and South Asia, giving AEGEAN passengers improved access to the region. IndiGo’s “6E” code will be added to AEGEAN’s European and domestic services from Athens International Airport, enabling Indian passengers to connect seamlessly to destinations across Greece and wider Europe. The partnership will also provide benefits such as through check-in for passengers travelling on codeshare itineraries.

Commenting on the agreement, Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said: “We are pleased to announce our partnership with AEGEAN, marking a significant step forward in our mission to give wings to India and enhance global connectivity. This collaboration enables our customers to conveniently book seamless itineraries on an expanded, integrated network across both airlines, including beautiful islands in Greece and other regional European destinations.”

Eftichios Vassilakis, Chairman of AEGEAN, added: “We are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with IndiGo, one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world. This step expands AEGEAN’s footprint beyond Europe into one of the world’s most dynamic markets, strengthening the bridge between Greece and India. By combining IndiGo’s extensive domestic network with AEGEAN’s European reach, we offer passengers more choices and convenience, along with a seamless travel experience.”

The collaboration is expected to play a key role in boosting cultural, business and tourism exchanges between the two countries, while enhancing connectivity for travellers across South Asia and Europe.