Indian lowcost carrier IndiGo has confirmed it is launching non-stop flights between the UK and India.
It is planning to operate three flights a week from Manchester, offering the only direct route to India from the north of England.
The service is due to start in July, subject to regulatory approval and ‘operational preparedness’, but IndiGo has not yet confirmed which city it will serve in India.
These flights, along with a new thrice-weekly service to Amsterdam, will mark IndiGo’s entry into the European market.
India’s largest airline – and one of the fastest growing in the world – has promised ‘affordable fares’ but these have yet to go on sale.
It will launch the two new European routes with Boeing 787s, which it has leased from Norse Atlantic.
The first of these aircraft is due to start flying on 1 March, with three more joining its fleet towards the second half of this year, after which IndiGo said it might increase its frequencies.
In a statement, it said: “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.”
CEO Pieter Elbers added: “Today, we unlock a new and very exciting chapter in IndiGo’s growth journey, connecting India to the heart of Europe.”
The airline said it is also looking at serving other markets in Europe.
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe added: “This new service will be the only direct route to India from the North of the UK and will be popular with the more than half a million people with Indian heritage who live within Manchester Airport’s catchment area.
“We also know that connectivity is a key enabler of trade and productivity. By providing direct access to the world’s fastest-growing major economy, this route will deliver a significant boost to the government’s economic growth mission and comes on the back of positive progress towards a UK-India trade deal.
“It’s an exciting time for relations between the North of England and India, with a new Indian Consulate opening in Manchester this weekend and a number of cultural, sporting, social and economic partnerships being agreed in recent months. For many years, the region has worked hard to create ever-closer ties with India and there is much on the horizon – including this summer’s England versus India Test series.”
