**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 1079 in Lok Sabha regarding the connectivity of Kolkata Airport to Europe and the USA, answered on February 5, 2026. It clarifies the current absence of direct flights, discusses the governing agreements, and specifies that airlines determine flight routes based on commercial factors. An annexure provides airline-wise details of direct flights operating from metropolitan cities in India to Europe and the USA.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Direct Flights from Kolkata:**
* There are currently no direct flight operations from Kolkata to Europe or the United States of America.
* **Governing Agreements:**
* International airline operations are governed by bilateral Air Services Agreements (ASA) between India and respective countries.
* Indian carriers can operate from any point in India (including Kolkata) to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity limits.
* Foreign airlines can operate to/from a point in India if it is designated as a point of call in the ASA.
* **Commercial Decisions:**
* The start of direct international flights is a commercial decision of airlines.
* Decisions are based on passenger demand, availability of slots, economic viability, and other associated factors.
* The Government does not interfere in the operational plans of airlines.
* **Annexure:**
* Airline-wise details of direct flights operating from metropolitan cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru) in India to Europe and the USA are provided in the annexure.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Kolkata Air Passengers**
* **Impact:** Currently, air passengers in Kolkata do not have the option of direct flights to Europe or the USA.
* **Action Required:** None. The decision to initiate flights depends on airline commercial considerations.
**Stakeholder: Airlines (Indian and Foreign)**
* **Impact:** Airlines have the freedom to operate flights based on the ASA and their commercial assessment.
* **Action Required:** Airlines need to assess the commercial viability of Kolkata routes and make independent decisions.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Civil Aviation**
* **Impact:** The ministry provides regulatory oversight through ASA but does not directly influence airline operational decisions.
* **Action Required:** The ministry is not directly involved in incentivizing Kolkata to Europe and the USA routes to enhance air connectivity.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and policies relating to civil aviation.
Air Services Agreement (ASA): Bilateral agreement between India and another country that governs international airline operations.
Kolkata: Indian city that is the subject of the parliamentary question regarding direct flights to Europe and the USA.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1079
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5th February 2026 )
CONNECTIVITY OF KOLKATA AIRPORT TO EUROPE AND USA
1079. DR. KAKOLI GHOSH DASTIDAR
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that there are no direct flights from Kolkata to Europe or the United
States of America (USA) and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(b) the number of direct flights from all metropolitan cities to Europe or the USA, airline-
wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to incentivise Kolkata to Europe and the USA routes
to enhance air connectivity; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (d) At present, there are no direct flights operations from Kolkata to Europe and the
United States of America (USA).
The international operations of airlines are governed by the bilateral Air Services
Agreement (ASA) between India and the respective country. In accordance with the ASA,
Indian designated carriers are free to mount operations to/from any point in India including
Kolkata to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity limits, while any
designated foreign airline can operate to/from a point in India if it is designated as a point
of call in the ASA with that country.
The airline-wise details of direct flights operating from metropolitan cities in India to
Europe and the USA are at Annexure.
The start of direct international flights from any point in India is purely a commercial
decision of scheduled airlines on the basis of passenger demand, availability of slots,
economic viability of the route and other associated factors. The Government does not
interfere in the operational plans of the airlines.
******Annexure
Operations by Indian and Foreign Carriers to/from the metropolitan cities* to/from USA
and Europe (including UK):
S. No. Name of the Airlines Services/week
1. Air India 156
2. Indigo 46
3. Air France 27
4. American Airlines 7
5. United Airlines 7
6. Belavia 1
7. British Airways 56
8. Virgin Atlantic Airways 39
9. Finnair 7
10. ITA Airways 7
11. KLM Airlines 28
12. Lufthansa 54
13. Polskie Linie Lotnicze LOT S.A 7
14. Swiss International Airlines 14
15. Turkish Airlines 14
16. Air Canada 4
* Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bengaluru