Bird Travels and Aegean Airlines Announce Direct Flights from India to Greece, ETTravelWorld

Bird Travels, the flagship airline management arm of the Bird Group, has announced its exclusive partnership with Aegean, Greece’s flag carrier, alongside the commencement of direct flight operations from Delhi and Mumbai to Athens starting in the first quarter of 2026.

The official flight schedule will be confirmed by the end of September 2025, at which point ticket sales will also open.

The launch marks Aegean’s debut in the Indian market and comes in line with the carrier’s international expansion strategy. The airline will shortly induct two new Airbus A321neo XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft, offering an extended range of up to 10.5 hours. These aircraft will be deployed to accelerate the start of India operations and open opportunities for additional long-haul connections.

The A321neo XLR fleet features upgraded cabin comfort for long-haul travel, including 138 seats in a customised configuration, with 24 Business Class Suites offering fully lie-flat beds, enhanced privacy, and direct aisle access. The cabins also include an inflight entertainment system with 4K screens, satellite Wi-Fi, USB and device charging ports, and extra-large bins designed for extended journeys.

Aegean plans to begin with five weekly flights from New Delhi in March 2026, followed by the launch of three weekly flights from Mumbai in May 2026. Bird Travels will act as the airline’s exclusive General Sales Agent (GSA) for India, overseeing sales, marketing, customer service, and distribution.

Roland Jaggi, Chief Commercial Officer of Aegean, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with Bird Travels, a trusted and eminent aviation partner in India, as we prepare to launch direct flights from both Delhi and Mumbai to Athens starting in early 2026. This marks a significant milestone in our international expansion and reflects our strong commitment to strengthening connectivity between Greece and India. The addition of our new Airbus A321neo XLR aircraft, along with the four A321neo LRs, accelerates our access to the extremely important Indian market but also allows for the immediate upgrade of our product and services to destinations outside the EU, longer than four hours in which we already operate. We are confident that, with Bird Travels’ expertise, Aegean will successfully establish its footprint in India, offering travellers a seamless and premium gateway to Europe and beyond.”

A key enabler of IndiGo’s international push is its aggressive fleet expansion. With one new aircraft joining its fleet every week, the airline expects to surpass 600 aircraft by 2030. A major development includes the damp lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways for six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, scheduled to arrive by early 2026, complementing the anticipated arrival of A350s in 2027.

Gaurav Bhatia, Executive Director, Bird Group, added: “We are very excited to see this promising partnership with Aegean beginning to unfold into a myriad of elevated travel experiences from New Delhi and Mumbai very shortly, connecting to Athens and further to Europe and the rest of the world. Aegean is a renowned airline with a strong reputation for quality service and connectivity. Given our expertise and network, there are exciting times ahead for the dynamic Indian travel market and discerning Indian travellers.”

As part of this partnership, Bird Travels will leverage its extensive sales network and deep market understanding to promote Aegean’s services to Indian travellers seeking premium direct access to Greece and onward European destinations.

• Published On Aug 13, 2025 at 12:25 PM IST

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