Europe-India seats at record 12 million; 18 airlines have non-stop flights; London LHR-Delhi top market

Non-stop capacity between Europe and India is at a record level. According to Cirium schedule information, 12.1 million two-way seats are planned in 2025, up by over 6% from the previous high recorded in 2024.

Despite this, more local passengers fly indirectly via Gulf, European or Indian airports than non-stop, while this non-stop capacity is also filled with passengers connecting to/from North America and other places.

While IndiGo serves Istanbul IST, it appears to have big plans. While not confirmed and therefore not included, the airline is expected to lease six Boeing 787-9s from Norse Atlantic for European flights. In early January, Aerotime reported that it was advertising for jobs at Amsterdam, London LHR and Paris CDG.

Air India’s share has grown from 23% to 30% following the Vistara merger

Cirium indicates that 18 airlines have non-stop flights. New entrants include Belavia, whose 737 MAX flights between Minsk and Delhi started in 2023. That same year, ITA Airways, Alitalia’s successor, started Rome FCO-Delhi. Alitalia served it until 2020.

Inevitably, Air India is the leading operator. It has a 30% share of 2025 capacity, up seven points year-on-year. This was because it merged with Vistara, which no longer exists. It now has 17 routes, one fewer than in 2024.

While unconfirmed, Kochi-London LGW is expected to end in W24. If it happens, Air India will have 16 European routes, and Kerala will lose its only non-stop European service.

Air India has double the seats of the second-largest airline and fellow Star Alliance member, Lufthansa. When all Star airlines are included, they have over half of the non-stop market (54%). Operators include Air Canada on its new fifth freedom winter seasonal Calgary-London LHR-Delhi route. In contrast, SkyTeam has 22% and oneworld 14%. Only 10% of capacity is provided by non-aligned carriers.

The UK has 38% of capacity

When the European side of Russia is included, 21 European airports in 13 countries have non-stop Indian flights. London LHR is number one. It has a third of seats, which rises to 37% when LGW is included and 38% for the UK generally.

The UK has twice the non-stop capacity as the second most-served nation, Germany. In both instances, passengers flying to North America and wider Europe are important.

Some 10 Indian airports are served this year. In order of departing seats, they are Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Amritsar, Goa GOX, Kochi (for now) and Goa GOI. Delhi has almost the same number of seats as the other nine airports combined.

London LHR-Delhi is the leading market

More than 45 Europe-India airport pairs have non-stop flights. Based purely on capacity, and not where passengers go, London LHR-Delhi is number one. It has 8-daily flights in February by Air India (3), British Airways (2), Virgin Atlantic (2) and Air Canada (1).

It is one of three LHR markets in the top 10 list. Others include LHR-Bengaluru, which is now present due to Virgin Atlantic’s new service, which started in March 2024, and Air India returning to the airport pair in October 2024.