To
The Honorable Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India 

Chairperson, Air India

 
Executive Management, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)

Subject: Petition for Direct Air Connectivity Between Berlin and India

Dear Respected Officials,

We, the undersigned members of the Indian diaspora, German-Indian business and academic communities, frequent travelers, professionals, and global citizens, submit this petition to earnestly request the launch of a direct flight route between Berlin, Germany and major cities in India — particularly New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

We firmly believe that the time is ripe for such a connection, driven by both the exponential growth of the Indian population in Berlin and surrounding regions, and the need for stronger economic, cultural, and diplomatic exchanges between India and Germany.

The Growing Indian Diaspora in Berlin and Eastern Germany
Recent data highlights the rapid increase in the Indian community residing in Berlin and the surrounding federal states:

• According to the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that a significant number of Indian nationals reside in Berlin. In 2024, the number was 37,120, with significant year-on-year growth.
• The Indian student population has seen a particularly sharp rise. As per the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), in the winter semester of 2023/2024, approximately 49,000 Indian students in German institutions (2023), with Berlin-based universities such as TU Berlin, HU Berlin, and FU Berlin seeing substantial Indian enrollment.
• Eastern German cities like Leipzig, Dresden, Magdeburg, Hamburg, and Potsdam are also witnessing an influx of skilled Indian IT professionals, healthcare workers, and researchers.
• The Indian Consulate in Berlin has reported a 300% increase in passport and OCI card applications from the region in the last five years.

Yet, despite this surge, there is no direct air connection between Berlin and India, forcing travelers to rely on time-consuming and often expensive connections via other European hubs.

Strategic Benefits of Direct Connectivity

1. Economic & Business Growth
Berlin is Germany's startup capital, and Indian entrepreneurs, IT specialists, and venture capitalists are playing a critical role. Simultaneously, Indian cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi are thriving tech and finance hubs. A direct flight will:

• Catalyze bilateral investments and facilitate easier corporate mobility.
• Reduce travel time for business leaders and delegates.
• Support trade missions and joint ventures, particularly in climate tech, AI, and automotive industries.

2. Education & Academic Exchange 

With thousands of Indian students and researchers contributing to Berlin's academic landscape, easier travel will:

• Encourage collaborative research between German and Indian institutions.
• Support mobility of faculty and PhD candidates under DAAD, Erasmus+, and Indo-German research programs.

3. Tourism & Cultural Integration
India and Germany share a deep appreciation of each other's culture, and tourism plays a pivotal role in this:

• A direct route will ease travel for Indian tourists exploring Berlin and Germany's eastern states, and for Germans visiting India's rich cultural heritage sites.
• Events such as the Berlin India Week, Indian Film Festivals, and Diwali celebrations attract thousands of attendees annually — many of whom currently face travel constraints.

4. Diplomatic & Policy Collaboration
Direct connectivity will:

• Strengthen diplomatic exchanges and high-level visits.
• Enable timely collaboration on global initiatives including climate change, tech ethics, and Indo-European strategic frameworks.

Operational Feasibility
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), opened in 2020, is now operating well under capacity. The absence of long-haul routes to South Asia leaves a significant connectivity gap.

Air India, with its growing international fleet and a revived strategic focus under Tata Group, is well-positioned to explore new, high-demand routes such as Berlin–New Delhi or Berlin–Mumbai or Berlin-Bangalore.

Given that Indian airports like IGI Delhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji Mumbai are also expanding international capacity, this route presents a win-win opportunity.

Our Request
We respectfully urge:

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, India to consider this route as part of bilateral aviation agreements.

Air India to conduct a feasibility study and trial direct flights from Berlin to India.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to extend necessary operational support and prioritization.

This initiative will be met with overwhelming support from the Indian diaspora, students, business communities, and bilateral organizations like the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your leadership in realizing this vital connection between two of the world's most dynamic democracies.

Sincerely,
Amit Chougule
Berlin, Germany
indiansdiasporainberlin@gmail.com / +49-17628572846 

Appendix: Office for Statistics Berlin-Brandenburg - https://download.statistics-berlin-brandenburg.de/60c6e60ee054ca04/41d999cf9fd4/SB_A01-05-00_2024h01_BE.pdf