This makes IndiGo the only airline operating direct flights between Mumbai and Manchester
Mumbai: India’s biggest airline by market share, IndiGo, announced the launch dates for its hotly anticipated long-haul debut connecting India to top destinations in Europe on Wednesday. The airline announced its foray into the long-haul sector earlier this year and said it would launch direct flights between Mumbai and Manchester on July 1 and direct flights to Amsterdam on July 2.
The airline plans to use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, damp leased from Norse Atlantic Airways, to operate thrice-weekly flights on the route. With the introduction of more 787-9 from Norse and the arrival of IndiGo’s A321XLRs starting this year and A350 from 2027, IndiGo hopes this will usher in a new era in long-haul operations for the airline.
IndiGo is the only airline that offers nonstop service between Mumbai and Manchester. The flights are now open for bookings across channels.
Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said, “IndiGo’s long-haul foray marks a pivotal moment in our global expansion journey. We are proud and excited to open the sale of our first long-haul service connecting Mumbai with Manchester, a special route in many ways.”
Recently, IndiGo signed agreements with Norse Atlantic Airways to dampen six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, one already operating on its Delhi-Bangkok route. These aircraft will support IndiGo’s debut into the European market, starting with Manchester and Amsterdam, while the airline awaits the delivery of its A321XLR from this year and A350-900 aircraft from 2027 onwards.
The wide-body aircraft boasts a double-aisle design featuring 56 IndiGoStretch seats in a 2x3x2 configuration. The economy class offers 282 seats in a 3x3x3 configuration.
The premium experience includes more complimentary benefits like priority check-in, anytime boarding, advance seat selection, and zero convenience fee.
Customers will also get additional baggage allowance starting from 30 kg at check-in and one bag weighing up to 12 kg in the cabin.
The airline also hopes to foster a strong partnership with Manchester Airport. Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said, “This route makes us the only Northern airport with a direct connection to India and cements our position as one of Europe’s best-connected airports.”
According to Woodroofe, the route will also connect half a million people with Indian heritage who live in Manchester Airport’s catchment area to family and friends.
“It also comes at a really exciting time for relations between India and the North of England – with a new consulate having opened in Manchester this year and a number of key cultural, sporting, social and economic partnerships being agreed in recent months vs India Test series to look forward to,” Woodroofe added.
IndiGo also announced that complimentary hot meals and beverages will be served to all customers on this route. IndiGo will serve complimentary hot meals and drinks made by home-grown Indian brands to passengers on this route.
The food and beverages will be complimentary for the IndiGoStretch customers. While in economy class, the meals and non-alcoholic beverages will be served complimentary; however, the alcoholic beverages can be purchased on-board, said the airline.
The high-quality meals will be vegetarian by default, although an option to pre-book non-vegetarian meals will be available at the time of booking.
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