India’s largest airline by market share, IndiGo, announced on Thursday that it will launch direct long-haul flights to Manchester and Amsterdam starting in July. The routes will be operated using the wide-body Boeing 787-9 aircraft, recently acquired on a damp lease from Norse Atlantic Airways. The Manchester service will be India’s only non-stop connection to the city, as all other options include at least one stopover.
These two destinations will be the furthest served by the low-cost airline from India. IndiGo, which has been rapidly expanding its international network with recent additions like Seychelles and Krabi, has so far relied on codeshare agreements with other airlines to connect to larger global destinations.
Earlier this year, IndiGo entered into a damp lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways for a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which began operations on March 1, 2025. The agreement was recently expanded to include three additional aircraft, set to join the fleet in the second half of the year.
Collectively, these aircraft will enable IndiGo to make an early entry into the long-haul market and establish itself in Europe while the airline awaits the delivery of its Airbus A321 XLR and A350-900 aircraft from 2027 onwards.
Pieter Elbers, chief executive officer, IndiGo said: “Today, we unlock a new and very exciting chapter in IndiGo’s growth journey, connecting India to the heart of Europe. 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 living in these countries. These new flights will benefit both our existing and potential customers who fly on these routes,” Elbers added.
The launch of flights to Manchester (three times weekly) and Amsterdam (three times weekly) is subject to operational readiness and regulatory approvals. With additional aircraft from Norse arriving later this year, frequencies may increase, and IndiGo is also exploring other key European markets to expand its long-haul network.