- IndiGo announced direct flights to Athens starting January 2026 and, the same day, revealed a codeshare with AEGEAN Airlines, giving Indian travellers one-stop access to over 90 destinations across Europe and the Greek islands.
- The partnership turns Athens into a hub for IndiGo, opening seamless connections to leisure hotspots like Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete, as well as Eastern European cities such as Prague, Budapest, and Sofia.
- With AEGEAN launching its own Delhi and Mumbai services in 2026, both carriers will align schedules to boost two-way travel, offering IndiGo a competitive edge over other Indian airlines in the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe markets.
IndiGo packed two major announcements into a single day. In the morning, the airline said it would launch direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Athens from early January 2026. By evening, it revealed a surprise follow-up: a codeshare partnership with Greece’s AEGEAN Airlines.
The twin moves mark IndiGo’s most ambitious push into Europe yet. For the first time, the carrier will operate six weekly nonstops to Athens—three from Delhi and three from Mumbai—using the long-range Airbus A321XLR. Subject to regulatory approvals, these will be the first direct services between India and Greece.
Athens as a hub, not just a destination
The codeshare gives Athens a new role. Instead of being just a single stop on IndiGo’s map, it becomes a hub for onward journeys. AEGEAN, Greece’s largest airline and a Star Alliance member, flies to more than 90 destinations in 45 countries from its base at Athens International Airport.
Its network is built around Southern and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Greek islands. Alongside major capitals such as Paris, Rome, Milan, Vienna, Barcelona and Madrid, AEGEAN offers frequent flights to leisure favourites like Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete and Corfu. In summer, it adds a dense seasonal schedule to smaller island airports, making it one of Europe’s most leisure-focused carriers.
For Indian travellers, that means an itinerary such as Delhi–Athens–Santorini could soon be booked on a single ticket with one check-in. Business and student travellers heading to cities such as Prague, Budapest, Sofia or Bucharest—destinations often requiring two changes today—could also make the journey with just one stop.
How the partnership will work
Under the MoU, IndiGo’s “6E” code will be placed on AEGEAN flights from Athens, while AEGEAN’s “A3” code will extend to IndiGo’s domestic and South Asian network. The final list of routes will be published closer to launch, but both carriers have confirmed passengers will enjoy through-check of baggage and integrated booking systems.
AEGEAN has already announced it will launch five weekly Athens–Delhi flights in March 2026, followed by three weekly Athens–Mumbai flights in May. Once both sides are flying into India, the airlines can line up their schedules at Athens to allow smoother transfers.
That will also mean a two-way benefit: Indian travellers gain access to Europe’s holiday and secondary cities, while AEGEAN customers arriving from Europe can connect onto IndiGo’s vast domestic network — to Goa’s beaches, Kochi’s backwaters, Jaipur’s palaces or Varanasi’s riverfront.
Why this is significant for IndiGo
IndiGo already has a strong codeshare with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. That partnership gives it reach into Western Europe and North America. Athens, however, offers something different.
- Leisure advantage: For Indian honeymooners or families, a one-stop trip to Santorini, Mykonos or Rhodes is a big upgrade over today’s two-stop routings.
- Eastern Europe access: AEGEAN’s footprint across the Balkans and Central Europe gives IndiGo a simple way into markets where Indian carriers have little or no direct presence.
- EU-based hub: Athens provides IndiGo with a base inside the European Union, diversifying risk and easing connectivity into Schengen countries.
Industry analysts note that Air India’s strengths remain on trunk routes to London, Frankfurt and Paris, but it has limited presence in the Mediterranean and Balkans. For airlines like Akasa or SpiceJet, which lack wide-body aircraft or major European partners, the gap is even wider. IndiGo, with its low-cost model and new long-range narrow-bodies, can price aggressively into these leisure-heavy markets.
Growing Indian appetite for new destinations
The timing taps into a clear trend. Indian outbound travel is diversifying beyond London and Dubai. Demand for city breaks in Prague, Budapest and Vienna, and for Mediterranean holidays in Spain, Greece and Croatia, has risen sharply. Tour operators say Indian weddings and honeymoon bookings to Greece have already surged, despite the inconvenience of current connections.
By aligning with AEGEAN, IndiGo positions itself as the first Indian carrier to offer simple, one-stop access to these markets. In peak summer months, when AEGEAN boosts island frequencies, IndiGo will be able to market hundreds of seamless connections—from Delhi or Mumbai to the beaches of Crete or the streets of Barcelona—all via Athens.
Announcing the deal, 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. As two ancient civilisations, India and Greece, reconnect through aviation; we are excited to join hands with AEGEAN to meet the growing demand for international air travel and foster stronger business ties between the two nations.”
Eftichios Vassilakis, Chairman of AEGEAN, commented:
“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 to our passengers more choices and convenience, along with a seamless travel experience. We look forward to joining forces with IndiGo and create new opportunities for cultural, business and tourism exchanges.”
What to watch next
The details of which routes will carry the codeshare are still to be confirmed. Much will also depend on how IndiGo times its Athens arrivals and how AEGEAN builds its summer schedule. But the intent is clear: Athens is set to be positioned as India’s new bridge into Europe.
If everything aligns, by mid-2026 an Indian traveller could fly from Mumbai to Athens, connect to Mykonos for a holiday, and return via Delhi on AEGEAN—all on a single booking. That’s a product no other Indian carrier is currently offering.
Also Read: IndiGo to Launch Direct Athens Flights with First A321XLR in 2026
