IndiGo to launch direct flights from India to Athens with first Airbus A321XLR

IndiGo expects to take delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR by the end of this year, as it confirms Athens as the first city to be served with the longer-range narrowbody. 

The Indian carrier on 15 September states it will be launching six weekly flights to the Greek capital in early January 2026, three each from its hubs in Delhi and Mumbai. 

This follows the delivery of its A321XLR, which it says will take place “by the end of 2025”. The A321XLR forms part of a 300-aircraft order IndiGo placed in 2019, which also comprises a mix of A320neos and A321neos.

The airline, which will be India’s first A321XLR operator, had previously disclosed its longer-range narrowbodies will come in a two-class configuration, with 12 business-class seats – known as ‘IndiGo Stretch’ – and 183 seats in economy.

IndiGo will be the first and only Indian operator to fly between India and Greece. The carrier previously disclosed plans to serve Athens with its A321XLRs, but did not disclose a launch timeline.

Athens will be IndiGo’s fourth European point, after Manchester, Amsterdam and London, all of which will be served with damp-leased Boeing 787s.