Indian budget carrier IndiGo to launch non-stop flights to UK, Europe

Delhi: India's biggest carrier by market share, IndiGo, has made good on its word to launch direct, long-haul flights to Europe by announcing direct flights to Amsterdam and Manchester.

The airline, known for its budget-friendly fares and extensive domestic network, will become the only carrier to operate direct flights from India to Manchester, strengthening connectivity between India and the northern UK.

The services, scheduled to commence in July 2025, are part of IndiGo’s plan to establish itself as a global aviation player by 2030. With its growing international footprint, the airline said it is addressing the long-standing demand for seamless connectivity between India, Europe, and Asia.

With initial frequencies set at three weekly flights to each destination, IndiGo plans to scale up operations as more aircraft are inducted. The airline is also evaluating additional European markets for future expansion. The launch is subject to completing all operational preparedness and regulatory approvals.

The airline has not revealed which Indian cities these flights would depart from.

To support its entry into the long-haul market, IndiGo partnered with Norse Atlantic Airways to lease Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The first of these wide-body planes entered operations on March 1, 2025, and three additional aircraft will join the fleet later this year.

According to IndiGo, these leased planes will enable the airline to operate long-haul routes until it takes delivery of its own Airbus A321XLR and A350-900 aircraft, starting in 2027.

The frequencies could grow further with the arrival of additional aircraft from Norse later this year. IndiGo is also evaluating other vital European markets to expand its long-haul footprint further.

Pieter Elbers, IndiGo’s CEO, said, “We're thrilled to announce our first-ever long-haul destinations - Manchester and Amsterdam. India has strong ties both with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for business and tourism, and there is a large Indian diaspora that lives in these countries.” Elbers, a former chief of KLM, also said that the United Kingdom is an important market for the airline.

Elbers said, “These new flights will benefit our existing and potential customers who fly on these routes. These new IndiGo long-haul routes are steps towards inching closer to realising our shared vision to build India into a global aviation hub."