Money Saving Tips: Direct flights from India to Europe are currently experiencing a decline in passenger numbers, as Indian tourists are increasingly opting for more affordable routes to cities such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Milan via certain West Asian and European locations.
Passengers avoiding direct flights
According to aviation research firm OAG, the trend of passengers avoiding direct flights presents an opportunity for budget airlines like IndiGo, which can leverage their low-cost business model to attract these travelers. Data from OAG covering December 2023 to November 2024 indicates that one-third of passengers flying from Mumbai to London and one-fourth from Delhi to London have chosen round-trip options instead of direct flights.
Additionally, 42% of travelers from Mumbai to Paris and 65% from Mumbai to Amsterdam did not select direct flights. Despite Lufthansa’s robust operations in India, 60% of passengers traveling from Delhi to Milan and 25% from Mumbai to Frankfurt opted for indirect routes. Even Turkish Airlines, which has a significant presence in India, reported that 18% of its Indian passengers did not choose direct flights from Mumbai to Istanbul.
London remains the most popular destination
London remains the most popular destination. During this timeframe, 99,191 passengers from Mumbai traveled via indirect routes, while 233,100 opted for direct flights. From Delhi to London, 102,028 passengers took round trips compared to 316,111 who chose direct flights. Anil Kalsi, vice-president of the Travel Agents Federation of India, attributes this trend to the preference for economical travel, noting that round trips can be at least Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 cheaper than direct flights. Numerous airlines, including Gulf Air, Oman Air, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, and in Europe, Air Astana, LOT Polish Airlines, and Turkish Airlines, are providing competitive rates, leading many travelers to prefer itineraries with layovers to visit multiple destinations.
However, he expressed optimism that budget airlines could revolutionize long-haul travel, particularly hoping that IndiGo will seize this opportunity.