IndiGo Enters Long-Haul Market with New Flights to Manchester and Amsterdam

2 tygodni temu

MUMBAI— India’s largest LCC, IndiGo Airlines (6E), has officially joined the long-haul club. The airline, known for its domestic dominance and short-haul international routes, has launched its first-ever widebody operations from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam very soon.

The Manchester service kicked off today (July 1), while the Amsterdam route begins tomorrow (July 2). Both destinations will be served with leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

IndiGo New Long-Haul Flights

The launch of the First-ever long-haul service, the Mumbai–Manchester flight (6E31), was marked with an inauguration ceremony at Mumbai’s Terminal 2. IndiGo celebrated this occasion with lamp lighting, ribbon, cake cutting, and plenty of photo ops.

CEO Pieter Elbers and airline staff were on site, engaging with passengers as IndiGo prepared to operate its maiden long-haul flight.

A similar celebration is planned tomorrow for the inaugural flight to Amsterdam (6E21), reinforcing IndiGo’s ambition to be seen as more than just a low-cost carrier.

The flights will be operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which are wet-leased from Norse Atlantic Airways. The aircraft features 56 Indigo Stretch seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and 282 standard economy seats in a 3-3-3.

What stands out is the upgraded in-flight experience. For the first time, IndiGo is offering complimentary hot meals, tea/coffee, and even wine, with vegetarian meals by default. Non-vegetarian meals are available as a pre-book option. Sula Vineyards and Oberoi Catering are onboard partners.

Indigo Stretch passengers receive added perks like 46 kg check-in baggage, 12 kg cabin allowance, and priority services.

New Services Fill the Gaps

The Mumbai–Manchester route was previously served by Jet Airways back in 2018 before its shutdown. The sector has remained unattended for years since then. IndiGo has now become the only carrier offering nonstop service between the two cities.

On the Amsterdam front, the route faces competition from KLM and Air India, but IndiGo’s pricing and network connectivity could help it capture a slice of the market. The airline might even look to extend the codeshare partnership with AF-KLM at Amsterdam.

This way, IndiGo can offer passengers convenient one-stop itineraries to the rest of Europe and North and South America. The choice of Mumbai over Delhi is also deliberate. Pakistan’s continued airspace closure has made Delhi-based long-haul operations longer and costlier.

CEO Remarks

Pieter Elbers, IndiGo CEO and former KLM head, stated:

“These routes connect India with two important European centers of business, tourism, and culture. We are excited to share India by IndiGo with more of the world.”

Manchester Airport’s MD, Chris Woodroofe, welcomed the return of direct service to India, saying it strengthens the city’s access to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

IndiGo isn’t going to stop here. The airline has leased six 787s from Norse Atlantic. There will be more B787s arriving by the end of 2025. A321XLR deliveries are likely to start later this year, and A350s are on order for delivery from 2027.

More European routes—including London, Copenhagen, and Athens—are likely next. With these new services, IndiGo will have only a negligible share of the India–Europe market. But with more Boeing 787s arriving, market share will grow.

Bottom Line

With these launches, IndiGo has stepped into a new phase—international widebody operations.

The airline is blending its low-cost model with premium in-flight touches. While it may not be a full-service carrier just yet, it’s clearly rewriting what a low-cost airline can look like on long-haul routes.

And for now, passengers heading to Manchester and Amsterdam from Mumbai have a new nonstop option.

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IndiGo Plans Strong Mumbai Hub For New Europe Flights

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