IndiGo debuts long-haul nonstop flights from Mumbai to Manchester, Amsterdam

India’s biggest carrier IndiGo on Wednesday announced its first-ever long-haul route connecting Mumbai with Manchester in the United Kingdom, becoming the only airline to offer non-stop service between these two cities, starting July 1, 2025. IndiGo also announced expansion into Europe with its first-ever non-stop flight from Mumbai to Amsterdam, set to launch on July 2, 2025.

The Gurugram-based carrier is also upgrading its in-flight dining experience on these routes. IndiGo will offer complimentary hot meals to all customers in IndiGoStretch and economy cabins on these routes. Food and beverages, alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic, will be complimentary for the IndiGoStretch customers. While in economy, the meals and non-alcoholic beverages will be served on a complimentary basis, however the alcoholic beverages can be purchased on-board. The meals will be vegetarian by default, although an option to pre-book non-vegetarian meals will be available at the time of booking, the airline said.

In an interview with Fortune India in April, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said that the airline has no plans to introduce hot meals on domestic routes.

IndiGo will use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft to operate thrice weekly flights on the Mumbai-Manchester route. This will make IndiGo the only airline offering direct connectivity between India and the northern UK. “IndiGo’s long-haul foray marks a pivotal moment in our global expansion journey. We are very proud as well as excited to open the sale of our first long-haul service connecting Mumbai with Manchester, a very 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,” said Elbers.

“Beyond supporting the growing Indian diaspora in the region, these direct flights are expected to boost two-way tourism, ease travel for students, professionals and leisure travellers, and unlock new avenues for bilateral trade and collaboration between the two countries. We look forward to a strong and synergistic partnership with Manchester airport, to be able 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 a global aviation hub,” said Elbers.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said this route makes us the only Northern airport with a direct connection to India. “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 it will capitalise on the wide-ranging cultural and economic ties that exist. 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. And 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 really looking forward to welcoming the first passengers in the summer,” Woodroofe said.

On the Mumbai-Amsterdam flight, Elbers said the Netherlands and India share a strong and thriving bilateral relationship, and IndiGo's new non-stop, thrice-weekly service between Mumbai and Amsterdam will only deepen the growing ties between the two nations.

Recently, IndiGo signed agreements with Norse Atlantic Airways to damp lease six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, one of which is 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.