**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 795 in Lok Sabha, concerning flights from Kolkata Airport, to be answered on December 4th, 2025. Smt. Rachna Banerjee questioned the Minister of Civil Aviation regarding the absence of direct flights from Kolkata to Europe and the USA, the details of direct flights from metropolitan cities to Europe and the USA, and whether the government proposes to incentivize routes from Kolkata to Europe and the USA. The response confirms the absence of direct flights from Kolkata to Europe and the USA.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Direct Flights from Kolkata:**
* There are no direct flight operations from Kolkata to Europe and the USA at present.
* **International Flight Operations Governance:**
* International airline operations are governed by bilateral Air Services Agreements (ASA) between India and respective countries.
* Indian designated carriers can operate to/from any point, including Kolkata, to foreign destinations within mutually agreed capacity limits.
* Foreign designated airlines can operate to/from a point in India if designated in the ASA with that country.
* **Airline Decisions:**
* Starting direct international flights from any point in India is a commercial decision based on passenger demand, slot availability, route viability, and other factors.
* **Government Role:**
* The government provides an enabling environment for the civil aviation sector.
* The government does not interfere in the operational plans of airlines.
* **Flights from Other Cities:**
* The 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 at Annexure.
**Impact Analysis**
**Kolkata Air Passengers:**
* **Impact:**
* Currently, passengers wishing to travel from Kolkata to Europe or the USA must take connecting flights.
* **Action Required:**
* Await airlines to evaluate routes commercially and potentially initiate direct flight services.
**Indian and Foreign Airlines:**
* **Impact:**
* This is an update of the current operational status of airlines.
* **Action Required:**
* Airlines should consider passenger demand, slot availability, economic viability and other factors to determine whether to initiate direct flights from Kolkata to Europe and the USA.
**Ministry of Civil Aviation:**
* **Impact:**
* Requires to maintain an enabling environment for airline operations.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to formulate and execute policies that are conducive for airlines to operate flights from India, in accordance with the ASA guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
Air Services Agreement (ASA): Bilateral agreement between India and other countries governing international airline operations.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: Indian government ministry responsible for civil aviation policies and regulations.
Kolkata: Indian city which 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. : 795
th
(To be answered on the 4 December 2025)
FLIGHTS FROM KOLKATA AIRPORT
795. SMT RACHNA BANERJEE
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 and the
United States of America (USA) and if so, the reasons therefor;
(b) the details and the number of direct flights commenced from all metropolitan cities to Europe
and the USA, airline-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to incentivise Kolkata to Europe and the USA routes to
enhance 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 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 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 has provided an enabling environment for the
growth of the civil aviation sector and it does not interfere in the operational plans of the airlines.
The airline-wise details of direct flights operating from metropolitan cities in India to Europe
and the USA are at Annexure.
*****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 145
2. Indigo 50
3. Air France 27
4. American Airlines 7
5. United Airlines 7
6. Belavia 1
7. British Airways 56
8. Virgin Atlantic Airways 35
9. Finnair 7
10. ITA Airways 7
11. KLM Airlines 27
12. Lufthansa 52
13. Polskie Linie Lotnicze 7
LOT S.A
14. Swiss International 14
Airlines
15. Turkish Airlines 14
* Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bengaluru