Top Seven Airlines Operating Their Flights to India

Air India A320 at Trivandrum airport
Binai Sankar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Discover the top seven international airlines flying to India in 2025—routes, fleet highlights, in-flight experience, baggage and booking tips, and why these carriers are ideal for travel to India. 

Learn which airline suits your itinerary and budget.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Why India attracts global airlines

2. How we selected the “top seven” airlines

3. Airline profiles

   • 3.1 Air India—The national connector

   • 3.2 Emirates—Dubai hub powerhouse

   • 3.3 Qatar Airways—Premium connectivity via Doha

   • 3.4 Lufthansa—Europe–India gateway

   • 3.5 British Airways—UK–India historic corridor

   • 3.6 Singapore Airlines—Southeast Asia–India excellence

   • 3.7 Turkish Airlines—A hub bridging Europe and India

4. How to choose the right airline for your trip to India

5. Booking tips, baggage and visa basics for travelers to India

6. Final thoughts: matching routes, comfort and value

7. Sources

Japan Airlines
Mark Bess, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Introduction: Why India attracts global airlines

India—with its booming business hubs, rich cultural tourism, and large diaspora—is one of the busiest international markets in aviation. 

Major global carriers compete on frequency, comfort, and connections to serve cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. The result: extensive route options and frequent sales that benefit travelers worldwide.

2. How we selected the “top seven” airlines

This guide highlights seven carriers chosen for a mix of: (a) network coverage into India, (b) frequency and market importance on India routes, (c) passenger experience and cabin options, and (d) visibility in recent airline route maps and announcements. The result is a cross-section of national, Gulf, European, and Asian operators that together illustrate the best ways to fly to India in 2025.

3. Airline profiles

Air India A320 and Boeing
Eluveitie, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3.1 Air India—The national connector

Why it’s top: As India’s flag carrier, Air India is central to inbound and outbound connectivity across continents. 

The airline operates a growing long-haul network with nonstop flights to Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia, often feeding into domestic hubs for onward travel within India. 

Air India’s international route map shows dozens of destinations across five continents, making it an essential carrier for travelers seeking direct flights to and from India. 

What to expect: A mix of Boeing and Airbus long-haul aircraft (including Dreamliners) and a steadily refreshed product offering on select international services. Ideal for travelers preferring one-stop or direct flights offered by the national carrier.

Who should fly Air India: Passengers wanting national connectivity, direct long-haul options from India, or integration with domestic Indian itineraries.

Emirates
Maarten Visser from Capelle aan den IJssel, Nederland, 
CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3.2 Emirates—Dubai hub powerhouse

Why it’s top: Emirates is one of the most prominent international carriers serving India. 

With a hub in Dubai, Emirates offers high-frequency services to multiple Indian cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and more. 

Its extensive global network lets passengers from Europe, the Americas, and Asia route to India with easy connections and a consistent in-flight product. Emirates’ dedicated pages and route maps show a wide Indian footprint. 

What to expect: A premium experience on aircraft such as the A380 and Boeing widebodies—strong entertainment systems, multiple cabin classes (including premium economy on selected A380s), and well-known lounge facilities in Dubai.

Who should fly Emirates: Passengers prioritizing in-flight comfort and connectivity via a modern hub, or those seeking premium-class options and smooth transfers.

Qatar Airways
Juke Schweizer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3.3 Qatar Airways—Premium connectivity via Doha

Why it’s top: Qatar Airways’ Doha hub places India within a high-frequency global network that often provides convenient one- or two-stop itineraries from many regions. 

The airline actively promotes India routes and offers a wide range of flight options to the country’s major airports. 

Qatar’s destination pages highlight comprehensive services to India. 

What to expect: Award-winning business class cabins, consistent service standards, and competitive route timings for travelers connecting through the Middle East.

Who should fly Qatar Airways: Business travelers and premium economy/business class seekers, or anyone wanting fast connections to secondary Indian cities from Europe, Africa, or the Americas.

Lufthansa
Juke Schweizer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3.4 Lufthansa—Europe–India gateway

Why it’s top: Lufthansa connects Germany and much of continental Europe to India through direct flights to major Indian metros and offers solid onward connectivity within Europe. 

As a major European network carrier, Lufthansa is a frequent choice for travelers flying between India and Europe. 

Their India route pages and coverage reflect a steady presence in the market.  multiple cabin classes, good frequent flyer partnerships (Star Alliance), and consistent schedules to cities such as Delhi and Mumbai.

Who should fly Lufthansa: Travelers originating in Europe who value alliance-based benefits and reliable schedules.

British Airways - Heathrow Airport, London
Steve Lynes from Sandshurst, United Kingdom, 
CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3.5 British Airways—UK–India historic corridor

Why it’s top: British Airways has a long-established presence on India routes, flying multiple times daily between London Heathrow and Indian metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. 

Recent announcements indicate BA’s plans to expand frequency on the Delhi route, underscoring the carrier’s strategic focus on the India market. 

What to expect: Direct overnight and daytime services from London, access to BA’s Executive Club benefits, and strong connections for onward travel across the UK and Europe.

Who should fly British Airways: Travelers flying between the UK and India or passengers who prefer direct LHR–India services with British carrier benefits.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A380
Rolf Wallner (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2), via Wikimedia Commons

3.6 Singapore Airlines—Southeast Asia–India excellence

Why it’s top: Singapore Airlines connects India to Southeast Asia, Australasia, and beyond with frequent services to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru. 

The airline’s reputation for customer service and consistent product quality make it a top pick for Asia–India itineraries. 

Route information confirms Singapore Airlines’ active India presence and frequent promotions to India destinations. 

What to expect: Highly rated service, modern widebodies on long-haul routes, and seamless connections through Singapore’s Changi hub.

Who should fly Singapore Airlines: Travelers from Southeast Asia, Oceania or passengers looking for a premium, highly reliable connection via Changi.

Turkish Airlines
Alan Wilson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3.7 Turkish Airlines—A hub bridging Europe and India

Why it’s top: Turkish Airlines leverages Istanbul’s geographic position to link India with Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

TK offers nonstop flights from Istanbul to major Indian cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, providing attractive one-stop itineraries for passengers across Europe and beyond. 

Turkish’s route pages highlight its India destinations and options. 

What to expect: Competitive fares, extensive intercontinental connectivity through IST, and a network that often delivers convenient measured layovers for onward travel.

Who should fly Turkish Airlines: Travelers from Europe or Africa wanting a single-stop route to India or those seeking competitive pricing with wide network reach.

4. How to choose the right airline for your trip to India

Selecting an airline depends on several factors:

• Departure region: If you’re in the Middle East, Emirates/Qatar/Etihad often give the best timings. From Europe, Lufthansa, BA and Turkish are strong options. From Southeast Asia or Australasia, Singapore Airlines is excellent.

• Priority (price vs. comfort): For economy fares look for sales and one-stop routings; for comfort consider Qatar, Singapore, Emirates or premium cabins on Lufthansa/BA.

• Direct vs. stopover: Direct flights reduce time but can cost more; hub carriers give flexible routing and competitive pricing.

• Alliance benefits: If you collect miles, match the carrier to your frequent flyer program (Star Alliance, Oneworld, etc.).

Malaysia Airlines A380-841
Channelsking, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

5. Booking tips, baggage and visa basics for travelers to India

• Book early for peak seasons (Diwali, summer months, and holiday periods). Airlines often release competitive advance fares.

• Check baggage allowance: Gulf carriers may include higher carry-on or checked allowances on certain fare classes—verify when booking.

• Transit/stopover rules: If planning a longer transit, check visa rules for the hub country (e.g., UAE, Qatar, Turkey) as some nationalities may require transit visas.

• India entry requirements: Confirm visa type (e-Visa, e-Arrival or visa on arrival where applicable) and any health declarations before travel; some airlines publish advisories for passengers bound for India. 

6. Final thoughts: matching routes, comfort and value

Air France Airbus A320
DavidivardiIL, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

There’s no single “best” airline for everyone flying to India—the right choice depends on origin, timing, budget, and preference for comfort or speed. 

The seven carriers profiled here represent the diversity of options available: national strength (Air India), Gulf hub connectivity (Emirates, Qatar), European gateways (Lufthansa, British Airways), Southeast Asian excellence (Singapore Airlines), and strategic bridging (Turkish Airlines). 

Use the route pages and seasonal promotions from these carriers to compare prices and schedules, and prioritize what matters most for your trip: nonstop convenience, premium cabin experience, or the lowest total travel time.

---

7. Sources

• Emirates—Flights to India / Route map. Emirates+1

• Qatar Airways—Flights to India / Doha connections. qatarairways.com+1

• Air India—International connectivity and route map. Air India+1

• Lufthansa—Flights to India information and network guides. Lufthansa+1

• British Airways—India route pages and recent network expansion announcements. British Airways+1

• Singapore Airlines—Flights to India and route maps. Singapore Airlines+1

• Turkish Airlines—Flights to India route pages. Turkish Airlines+1

• Mumbai Airport inland guides and practical traveler info (used to illustrate hub/airport context).