Today, IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, announced its first-ever long-haul route connecting Mumbai (India) with Manchester (United Kingdom), becoming the only airline to offer nonstop service between these two cities, starting 01 July 2025. IndiGo has enhanced its in-flight dining experience by offering complimentary hot meals and beverages to all customers on this route. The airline will use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft to operate thrice-weekly flights on the route. IndiGo will be the only airline offering direct flights between India and Northern UK. The flights are open for bookings across channels, including IndiGo’s official website, goIndiGo.in, mobile app, and authorised travel partners.

Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer of IndiGo, said, “IndiGo’s long-haul foray marks a pivotal moment in our global expansion journey. We are very proud and excited to open the sale of our first long-haul service connecting Mumbai with Manchester, a special route in many ways. Celebrating India and its unique cuisine, we’re thrilled to announce that specially crafted complimentary hot meals and beverages by iconic home-grown Indian brands will be served to all our customers on this route. The new route will provide a seamless connection to most 90+ Indian destinations on IndiGo’s domestic network, benefiting customers travelling from Manchester to Mumbai. This service by IndiGo will further enhance connectivity between India and the UK, fostering stronger economic, educational, and cultural ties. These direct flights will enhance tourism between India and the region, facilitate travel for students, professionals, and leisure travelers, and create new bilateral trade and collaboration opportunities.
We look forward to a strong and synergistic partnership with Manchester Airport to serve our customers well. This significant step underscores our commitment to becoming an airline of truly global scale and stature and contributing towards transforming India into an international aviation hub.” 

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said, “Here at Manchester Airport, we are proud to connect the North to the world – that is why we are delighted to announce this new direct service to Mumbai and welcome IndiGo to the UK. This route makes us the only Northern airport directly connected 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. It will connect half a million people with Indian heritage who live in Manchester Airport’s catchment area to family and friends and capitalise on the wide-ranging cultural and economic ties. Strengthening the relationship between India and the North of England is essential, particularly with the new consulate opening in Manchester this year. They have also recently established several important cultural, sporting, social, and economic partnerships. On top of that, we have this summer’s England vs India Test series to look forward to. It’s great to see tickets for this exciting route going on sale, and I’m looking forward to welcoming the first passengers in the summer.”

The airline has consecutively announced its debut long-haul routes from Mumbai, and Manchester and Amsterdam have been added to its growing international network. 

This is the start of a truly exciting new chapter in IndiGo’s growth journey, with Amsterdam and Manchester being the initial long-haul destinations. The introduction of more 787-9 from Norse and the arrival of IndiGo’s A321XLRs starting this year and A350S from 2027 will usher in a new era, enabling the airline to offer long-haul flights with IndiGo’s unique value proposition.

Aircraft configuration
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 spacious double-aisle design. It features 56 IndiGoStretch seats in a comfortable 2x3x2 configuration, with an impressive 43-inch seat pitch. The economy class offers 282 seats in a 3x3x3 configuration, with a generous 31-inch seat pitch for a comfortable travel experience.

IndiGoStretch – IndiGo’s tailor-made business product
IndiGoStretch customers on this new route will enjoy an elevated in-flight dining experience with specially curated complimentary hot meals served with the finest alcohol catered by award-winning iconic Indian brands, promising a journey as enjoyable as the destination. IndiGoStretch offers customers additional legroom, comfortable seating, and enhanced reclining to elevate their comfort during long-haul journeys. 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 kgs at check-in and one bag weighing up to 12 kgs in the cabin. 

Specially Curated in-flight Dining:
In its first, IndiGo is offering complimentary hot meals onboard for all customers in IndiGoStretch and Economy cabins on this route. The food and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be complimentary for the IndiGoStretch customers. The flight attendants will serve complimentary meals and non-alcoholic drinks in the economy class. Passengers can purchase alcoholic beverages onboard. 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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