IndiGo is set to launch direct flights to Athens, Greece in January 2026, marking a significant step in its European expansion. The airline will use its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft, India’s first of this type for the new route.

The A321XLR, or ‘extra-long-range’ version of Airbus’s popular A321 jet, is designed for flights of up to 11 hours. With a range of around 8,700 km, the aircraft makes it possible to connect India to deeper parts of Europe without needing a widebody fleet. IndiGo expects to take delivery of its first A321XLR by the end of 2025. Once inducted, the airline plans to operate six weekly flights, three from Delhi and three from Mumbai to Athens from early January, subject to regulatory approvals.

Athens will be the first European destination served by IndiGo using its own aircraft. Until now, the airline has been operating long-haul flights to Europe, such as to Amsterdam and Manchester, using damp-leased widebody aircraft. IndiGo described the Athens launch as a symbolic milestone both for its growth strategy and for India’s aviation industry as it will make the airline the only Indian carrier offering direct services between India and Greece.

The move comes at a time when the India-Europe travel market is expanding rapidly, driven by business, tourism and diaspora demand. Currently, foreign carriers dominate this space, controlling nearly 70 per cent of India-Europe traffic. IndiGo, which already commands more than 60 per cent of the domestic market, is now aggressively expanding its international footprint to capture a larger share of overseas travel. In May, the airline announced plans to add 10 new international destinations in the 2025–26 financial year, including five in Europe and the UK.

Greece has also been strengthening its aviation links with India. Greek carrier Aegean Airlines plans to launch direct flights between Athens and Delhi in March 2026, and Athens and Mumbai in May 2026, also using the Airbus A321XLR.

IndiGo’s Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Elbers, said that choosing Athens as the first destination for the A321XLR was both strategic and symbolic. “Athens as the inaugural destination for IndiGo’s, and India’s, first Airbus A321XLR is a symbolic milestone of India’s aviation ascent. This new aviation corridor connects two ancient civilizations with long-standing ties, while also boosting tourism, trade and modern-day cooperation between India and Greece,” he said.

Over the past three years, IndiGo has steadily expanded its global network, adding destinations across Central Asia, the Caucasus, Southeast Asia and Africa. With the arrival of the A321XLR, the airline will now be able to extend its reach further into Europe while maintaining the cost benefits of a single-aisle fleet.

By making Athens its first A321XLR destination, IndiGo not only strengthens India-Europe connectivity, but also positions itself as a strong competitor to international airlines dominating this sector.