Mumbai to Manchester: IndiGo touches down in Europe
July 1, 2025
Budget Indian carrier IndiGo has made its debut in Europe as it touches down in Manchester.
Marking the start of its expansion into the long-haul European market, low-cost carrier, IndiGo took off from Mumbai in the early hours of the morning on 1 July before making the 10-hour flight to Manchester, where it landed just after 10am.
The flight is the first of three that will be operated weekly using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which IndiGo has leased from Norse Atlantic Airways.
Cutting the ribbon and kicking off our very first flight to #Manchester! Cheers to new adventures. ✂️✈️ #goIndiGo pic.twitter.com/JuNffGviiQ
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) June 30, 2025
The flight marks the first direct link between the north of England and India’s financial capital. The Manchester flights will operate three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and are part of the airline’s expansion into long-haul routes.
IndiGo is also launching a Mumbai to Amsterdam route starting on 2 July, 2025.
A pivotal moment for IndiGo
IndiGo boss Pieter Elbers said the new European routes signal “a pivotal moment in our global expansion journey.”
He also said the “new route will provide seamless connection to a vast majority of 90+ Indian destinations on IndiGo’s domestic network benefitting customers travelling from Manchester to Mumbai. This service by IndiGo will thereby further enhance connectivity between India and the UK, fostering stronger economic, educational and cultural ties,” he added.
Say hello to the operating crew. ✈️💙 #goIndiGo #Manchester pic.twitter.com/gnRBdMkoki
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) July 1, 2025
Meanwhile, Manchester Airport managing director, Chris Woodroofe, said, “the route makes us the only Northern airport [in the UK] with a direct connection to India and cements our position as one of Europe’s best-connected airports. It will link the region to the world’s fastest growing economy, opening up even stronger trade and investment opportunities.”
With over half a million people with Indian heritage living in Manchester’s catchment area, the new link will provide a convenient transport link for family and friends wanting to travel between the two cities. It will also capitalise on the wide-ranging cultural and economic ties that exist
IndiGo’s long-haul growth strategy
IndiGo has seen impressive growth in recent years. It launched operations in 2006 with an initial order of 100 Airbus A320 aircraft but now operates a fleet of over 400 aircraft comprised of A320neo and ceos, A321neos and ATR 72-600 aircraft.
Following a Letter of Intent published in November 2024, the airline also agreed to lease six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners from Norse Atlantic Airways for an initial six-month period, extendable up to 18 months.
The agreement, which saw the first Norse aircraft delivered in March, has enabled IndiGo to make an early entry into the long-haul market while it awaits the arrival of Airbus A321 XLR and A350-900 aircraft due for delivery from 2027.
At the beginning of June IndiGo announced it was further strengthening its fleet by signing an MoU with Airbus to enlarge its wide-body aircraft order, converting 30 aircraft of its purchase rights for 70 aircraft into a firm order. The move marked yet another step in defining the airline’s long-term plans for international expansion.
Last year the airline served more than 118 million passengers across its network of more than 90 domestic destinations in India and 40 international destinations.
