Air India & IndiGo Expand Direct Europe Flights in 2026

Air India and IndiGo expand direct Europe flights to Rome and London as Etihad, United, AirAsia X, and others add new European routes—reshaping long-haul connectivity for B2B travel agents and corporate planners.

Europe’s Air Connectivity Enters a High-Growth Phase

The international aviation market is entering a decisive growth cycle as airlines rapidly expand long-haul networks to meet surging outbound demand. Europe remains at the center of this expansion, driven by leisure recovery, corporate travel revival, and strong VFR (Visiting Friends & Relatives) traffic.

Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo are now firmly part of this global push, joining Middle Eastern, American, and Asian airlines in launching or restoring non-stop services to key European cities.

For B2B travel professionals, this shift directly impacts fare structures, routing strategies, corporate contracts, and group travel planning.

Air India Restores Delhi–Rome Non-Stop After Six Years

Air India is reinstating its direct Delhi–Rome service from 25 March 2026, operating four flights per week. The route had remained suspended since the pandemic and marks a strategic return to Southern Europe.

This reinstatement strengthens Air India’s European footprint while improving access for:

• Leisure travelers heading to Italy

• Corporate traffic between India and Southern Europe

• Onward connections via Delhi into South and Southeast Asia

For agents, this opens new opportunities for Italy-focused FITs, MICE movements, and premium long-haul itineraries without transit dependencies.

IndiGo Makes a Strategic Leap with Delhi–London Heathrow

IndiGo continues its international transformation with the launch of Delhi–London Heathrow flights starting 2 February 2026. The service will operate five times weekly, using Boeing 787 aircraft leased from Norse Atlantic.

With this addition, IndiGo’s total London operations rise to 12 weekly flights, including its established Mumbai–London services.

This move signals IndiGo’s long-term intent to compete in high-yield, long-haul corridors—critical for:

• Corporate travel planners

• SME business traffic

• Price-sensitive leisure segments

The planned launch of Athens in 2026 further reinforces IndiGo’s Europe-focused growth strategy.

Etihad Expands Central & Eastern Europe Access

Middle Eastern carriers remain key enablers of Europe connectivity, with Etihad Airways announcing multiple network expansions:

• Abu Dhabi–Bucharest from March 2026

• Abu Dhabi–Krakow from June 2026

• Increased Munich frequency to three daily flights from September 2026

These routes enhance hub-and-spoke efficiency for agents managing multi-region itineraries across Europe, Asia, and Africa, particularly for corporate and premium traffic.

United Airlines Adds New Summer Europe Gateways

United Airlines is strengthening its transatlantic dominance with new Newark–Europe routes for Summer 2026:

• Split (Croatia)

• Bari (Italy)

• Glasgow (Scotland)

• Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

These destinations cater strongly to experiential, cultural, and seasonal travel demand—highly relevant for curated European tour programs and premium leisure clients.

American Airlines Scales Up Key European Markets

American Airlines is expanding selectively with new and seasonal routes including:

• Miami–Milan

• Dallas–Athens

• Miami–Zurich

• Dallas–Zurich

This expansion increases capacity on business-heavy and premium leisure corridors, offering

agents more flexibility in fare negotiation and routing.

Asian & Global Carriers Reinforce Long-Haul Competition

AirAsia X is evaluating new Europe services via Istanbul, targeting London, Edinburgh, or Paris as early as 2026. The strategy positions Istanbul as a low-cost long-haul gateway between Asia and Europe.

LATAM is also entering the Europe growth cycle with a São Paulo–Amsterdam service launching April 2026, enhancing South America–Europe connectivity for global network planners.

Snapshot: New & Expanded Europe Routes

Air India – Delhi–Rome (4x weekly, March 2026)
IndiGo – Delhi–London Heathrow (5x weekly, Feb 2026)
Etihad Airways – Krakow, Bucharest, increased Munich frequencies
United Airlines – Newark to Split, Bari, Glasgow, Santiago
American Airlines – Milan, Athens, Zurich expansions
AirAsia X – Istanbul–Europe routes planned
LATAM – São Paulo–Amsterdam (3x weekly)

What This Means for B2B Travel Professionals

This wave of direct Europe connectivity signals:

• Reduced dependency on transit hubs

• More competitive long-haul pricing

• Improved schedule reliability for corporate accounts

• Expanded inventory for Europe-focused FIT, MICE, and group travel

Indian carriers stepping confidently into long-haul Europe routes also reshape the competitive landscape, giving agents stronger domestic airline options for international sales.

Final Takeaway

Europe’s aviation market is entering a structurally stronger phase, with Indian, Middle Eastern, American, and Asian airlines all investing aggressively in direct connectivity. For B2B travel agents and corporate planners, this creates tangible opportunities to design smarter itineraries, negotiate better fares, and deliver more seamless travel experiences.

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