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By Author
Published on March 3, 2024
In a strategic move to enhance global connectivity, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is actively working towards establishing direct flights to India, a development that underscores the airport's ambitious growth plans. With a record-breaking passenger volume of 28.1 million in 2023, reflecting a significant 12.6% increase from the previous year, PHL is on an upward trajectory, buoyed by the addition of new international and domestic routes.
Edgar Antistenes Vesga-Arias, Director of Air Service Development and Cargo Services at PHL, shared insights into the airport's expansion efforts and its focus on the Indian market in an exclusive interview with ET TravelWorld. Despite the absence of direct flights, PHL's connectivity with India remains strong, with over 190,000 passengers travelling between the regions in 2023. However, only 34% utilised PHL's services, highlighting the potential for direct connections.
Philadelphia's appeal to the Indian market is significant, attributed to its prominence in education and medicine, drawing a considerable number of international students and visitors. To enhance connectivity, PHL is leveraging major connecting points like Doha, London, and Frankfurt, and has introduced an incentives program to encourage airlines to establish routes to unserved and underserved destinations, including India.
Vesga emphasised the economic impact of the Indian market, noting that India is Philadelphia’s 3rd largest market for direct visitor spending. The anticipated increase in visitation from India by 26.4% over the next five years underscores the importance of this market. In 2023, there were 66,422 total annual passengers travelling between PHL and India, with a significant portion originating from Philadelphia.
Looking ahead, PHL is committed to developing the Indian market through proactive collaborations and sustainability measures. The airport's goal to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050 and Zero Waste by 2035 highlights its dedication to environmental stewardship. Initiatives such as emissions tracking, electrification of ground support equipment, and sustainable design requirements for capital projects are at the forefront of PHL's sustainability efforts.
Marketing campaigns tailored to Indian travellers and the PHL Air Service Incentive Program, offering landing fee waivers and inclusion in destination marketing efforts, are part of the strategy to attract more airlines and develop new routes.
Philadelphia International Airport's drive to establish direct flights with India and its comprehensive growth and sustainability plans position it as a key player in facilitating seamless travel experiences and promoting economic development in the region.
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By Hariharan U
Published on January 3, 2026
IndiGo has outlined a cautious yet forward-looking approach as it prepares for the next phase of growth, placing strong emphasis on “operational reliability” while planning a limited set of international route additions. The airline said its immediate focus is to “stabilise operations” as it continues to strengthen capacity and network resilience.
As part of its international plans, IndiGo has announced the launch of non-stop services to Athens. This route will also mark the international debut of India’s first Airbus A321XLR, a new aircraft type expected to support the airline’s entry into fresh overseas markets as it gradually expands beyond short-haul operations.
Beyond Athens, the airline has not shared details of additional international destinations or capacity increases. IndiGo stated that it will continue to grow its international footprint while further densifying its domestic network, without outlining the pace or scale of expansion.
On the domestic front, the airline is also preparing to begin operations from Noida International Airport at Jewar, strengthening its presence in the National Capital Region once services commence.
Addressing recent operational challenges, IndiGo said it had swiftly restored normal operations following a temporary network disruption. The airline also confirmed that it is “fully collaborating and providing requested information to the regulator's committee” as part of an ongoing review by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
While IndiGo reiterated its long-term ambitions, including plans related to widebody aircraft and sustained growth, its near-term outlook remains measured. The airline said its renewed focus on stability will help drive future scale, innovation, and impact as it carefully explores new frontiers.
Published on January 1, 2026
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has made an impressive start, handling a total of 26,021 passengers in its first five days of operations. This includes 12,431 arrivals and 13,590 departures, showing strong demand right from day one.
Weekend traffic was particularly high, with 5,548 travellers on Saturday and 5,614 on Sunday, reflecting growing confidence among passengers. During this initial period, the airport managed 162 flight movements, 81 arrivals and 81 departures, while keeping on-time performance smooth for both airlines and ground services.
Currently, NMIA connects 13 major domestic destinations, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa (MOPA), Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Nagpur, Vadodara. These connections cover key business and leisure hubs, giving travellers more options and conveand nience in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Looking ahead, the airport plans to expand its network with additional destinations and increased flight frequencies in coordination with partner airlines. With strong early passenger response and ready infrastructure, NMIA is set to become a modern, seamless travel hub in Western India
Air India has strengthened its partnership with airBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia, by entering into a new codeshare agreement, making travel between India and the Baltic region easier and more seamless for its customers. This move builds on the interline partnership established between the two carriers in June 2025.
Under the codeshare, Air India has begun adding its ‘AI’ designator code on airBaltic-operated flights between Riga and Air India’s European gateways including Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Milan Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, and London Gatwick. This allows passengers to travel between India and Riga with a single Air India ticket, covering connecting flights under the same booking.
Additionally, Air India’s interline agreement with airBaltic allows travellers to reach Tallinn, Estonia, and Vilnius, Lithuania via select European gateways, further expanding access to the Baltic region.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, "This expanded partnership with airBaltic reflects Air India’s commitment to providing seamless global connectivity to our customers. Latvia and the wider Baltic region are growing travel markets, and this codeshare makes the journey more convenient than ever."
Air India currently operates multiple non-stop flights connecting India with Europe:
Delhi: Amsterdam (7x weekly), Paris (14x weekly), Frankfurt (12x weekly), Copenhagen (4x weekly), Milan (6x weekly), Vienna (4x weekly), Zurich (4x weekly)
Mumbai: Frankfurt (5x weekly)
Amritsar & Ahmedabad: London Gatwick (3x weekly each)
Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has expanded its global alliance network to include 24 codeshare partnerships and nearly 100 interline agreements, offering passengers access to over 800 destinations worldwide.
The new codeshare flights are now available for booking through both airlines’ official channels and travel partners.
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