How India's 20+ New Flights and Origin Immigration Checks Redefine Global Travel

The year 2025 marked a significant turning point for Indian air travel trends 2025.

New flight routes, major immigration reforms, and evolving visa rules made international travel notably smoother. Long layovers and complex paperwork are slowly being replaced by quicker, more affordable trips. This rapid evolution places Indian passengers at the forefront of global aviation changes.

Expanding Global Reach: New Direct Routes

India now boasts over 20 new direct international flights India from major and secondary cities. This expansion significantly reduces travel time and eliminates complex layovers for many destinations.

New routes connect cities like Kolkata to Guangzhou and Siem Reap. New Delhi gained direct service to Manila and Guangzhou. Mumbai travelers now have direct access to Tbilisi, Almaty, Krabi, and Seychelles. Pune also saw new flights to Bangkok and Dubai, boosting connectivity from smaller hubs. Airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air Astana, and Air India Express are operating these new services.

IndiGo's Europe Long-Haul Debut

In a major shift for the market, IndiGo became the first Indian budget carrier to launch IndiGo Europe long-haul flights. The airline began non-stop service from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam in July 2025. These routes are operated using wet-leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. This move challenges Air India's historical dominance on these routes. The carrier plans to induct its own Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft starting in 2027. This long-term strategy signals a new era for affordable, long-distance travel from India.

Transformative Immigration and Border Control

Origin Airport Immigration Checks

One of the most transformative proposals is the plan for India immigration reform regarding international transfers. Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu announced that the government is studying a system to allow passengers to complete immigration checks at their origin airport. For example, a passenger flying from Surat to London via Delhi could complete immigration in Surat. This would allow for seamless transfers at major hubs like Delhi and Mumbai, similar to global airports in Dubai or Singapore. If implemented, this would significantly reduce confusion and decrease waiting times at India’s busiest international airports.

Fast Track Immigration Programme Expands

India’s Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) saw a major expansion. The programme is now available at 13 airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Eligible Indian citizens and OCI cardholders can use biometric e-gates for rapid clearance. This system allows travelers to clear immigration in as little as 30 seconds. This initiative is part of India’s push to modernize border management and meet global aviation standards.

Europe's New Digital Border System

Non-EU visitors to the Schengen Area are now encountering the EU Entry/Exit System EES. Launched on October 12, 2025, the system replaces manual passport stamping with digital border records. Travelers provide facial and fingerprint biometrics upon first entry. This digital process is intended to make subsequent border checks easier and faster. The system is currently in a six-month transition period, with full deployment expected by April 2026. The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) developed the EES. For more commercial aviation news and analysis, visit flying.flights.

Changing Visa Landscapes

Travelers to the United States faced stricter and more costly visa rules in 2025. As of June 2025, applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas (students and exchange visitors) must keep their social media accounts public for security checks. The U.S. State Department stated this is a national security decision to verify identity and admissibility. This directive also requires applicants to disclose all social media usernames used over the past five years. Furthermore, new visa integrity fees increased the average cost for Indian applicants.

In contrast, Indian passport holders gained new visa-free travel options. They can now visit Palau for up to 30 days without a visa. The Philippines also allows visa-free entry for tourists for up to 14 days. This offers new, easier options for Asian travel.

Impact on Aviation Stakeholders:

• Airlines: The new direct routes and IndiGo's long-haul entry increase competition and passenger volume, driving fleet expansion (e.g., Airbus A350 orders).
• Airports: The FTI-TTP and the proposed origin immigration checks are critical for managing rapidly increasing international passenger traffic. They enhance operational efficiency.
• Regulators: The EASA-supported EES system and India's FTI-TTP show a global trend toward biometric-based border control for enhanced security and speed.