From Mumbai and with the wings of IndiGo, the first Airbus A321XLR from India took off with Athens as its inaugural direct destination. This event marks a double milestone in the aviation market, as not only does it make IndiGo the first Indian airline to fly directly to Greece, but it also marks the first international route in Indian aviation served by the advanced technology A321XLR aircraft.
With the visa issue resolution remaining pending and in view of the upcoming cooperation between IndiGo and AEGEAN, the maiden “India-Greece” flight took place on Friday, January 23, bringing a significant upgrade to Greek tourism with an investment full of opportunities.
First flight to Athens from IndiGO: What the new direct India-Greece connection means for Greek tourism
“Today it’s Athens, tomorrow it could be Santorini, Heraklion or Thessaloniki,” commented IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, who attended a special event in Athens. But how could a new direct flight from India to Greece change Athens’ travel status? “These direct flights will not only make travel easier for leisure travelers and business professionals, but will also contribute to strengthening bilateral ties between two of the world’s oldest civilizations,” P. Elbers noted, emphasizing that the Greek capital is an ideal destination for Indian travelers seeking leisure travel, MICE activities and wedding tourism.
Yiannis Paraschis spoke of a “historic moment for Athens airport,” who at the completion of his tenure as CEO of AIA (he will be succeeded by Giorgos Kallimasias from February 1st) is credited with the success of IndiGo’s investment in Athens, transforming it from a simple stopover to a destination city for an emerging tourism market.
“The launch of IndiGo’s direct flights connecting Delhi and Mumbai with Athens is a particularly significant development that creates prospects for tourism, while simultaneously strengthening business and economic ties, as well as cultural exchanges between the two countries,” he emphasized characteristically.
Flying with India’s and IndiGo’s first A321XLR
On Friday, January 23, approximately eighty passengers from India arrived at Athens “Eleftherios Venizelos” Airport, “cutting the ribbon” on long-haul flights with narrow-body aircraft (Airbus A321XLR). The brand-new aircraft that landed in our country stands out both for its premium seats (business seats) and its advanced economy seats that offer a more comfortable and upgraded flight experience.
Specifically, according to information from IndiGo’s management, the new Airbus A321XLR features a two-class configuration, with 12 IndiGoStretch seats and 183 economy seats. Passengers enjoy complimentary hot meals and beverages inspired by international and local flavors, with pre-selected vegetarian options and the ability to pre-book non-vegetarian meals.
Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase in economy class or can be pre-booked, while they are offered complimentary to IndiGoStretch passengers. Additionally, the new next-generation digital entertainment experience allows passengers to stream on their personal devices from a wide range of content including Indian and Hollywood movies, TV series, games, anime and many more options.
Powerful tourism market with high income profile
India represents one of the strong “cards” for Greek tourism in the coming years, with projected arrivals of high-income profile travelers. We remind that Indian visitors have preferences for culture and attractions, seaside resorts (Beach/Coast and Resort) for relaxation, City Break for shopping and city touring, as well as access to natural landscapes for activities like walking.
The main tourist products that attract Indian travelers to our country are luxury tourism, gastronomic tourism, cultural and sightseeing tourism, conference tourism, wedding tourism, and MICE. The preferred accommodation so far remains hotels, followed by stays with friends or relatives, as well as vacation rental homes.
According to data from the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (INSETE) regarding the profile of very important markets for tourism in Greece over the next 12 months, 41.2% of Indians target 1 to 2 international trips with overnight stays, while 16.5% of Indians plan to make 3 to 4 international trips with overnight stays.
IndiGo: Leader in Indian aviation with affordable fares and flight punctuality
IndiGo is India’s preferred airline and ranks among the fastest-growing airlines worldwide. Its philosophy centers on affordable fares, punctual flights and premium travel experience. It operates a fleet of more than 400 aircraft executing over 2,000 daily flights and employs 68,000 workers.
In 2025, it served more than 120 million passengers and was named “Best Airline in India and South Asia” by Skytrax at the World Airline Awards 2025. It earned sixth place among the most punctual airlines in the Asia-Pacific region for 2025, according to global aviation analytics company Cirium.
