Low-cost carrier IndiGo has announced it will suspend flights between London Heathrow and India on 25 October, after handing back the remaining five aircraft it leases from Norse Atlantic Airways.
IndiGo initially leased six aircraft with crew from Norse to launch flights to Europe, including Heathrow and Manchester, but, in June this year, it announced it was handing back one aircraft at the end of August, following the closure of its Manchester route.
It’s now said it will return the other five aircraft on 31 October, saying: “Due to the challenging operating environment triggered by the ongoing geopolitical tensions, IndiGo… will discontinue its wide-body operations effective 25 October 2026 and conclude its damp lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways effective 31 October 2026.”
IndiGo will continue to operate flights between Mumbai and Amsterdam using an Airbus A321XLR from 25 October 2026. It intends to operate flights to and from Heathrow using A350-900 aircraft, but said it will ‘temporarily discontinue its services to and from London Heathrow until such time that its A350-900s are delivered’.
Norse Atlantic CEO Eivind Roald said: “We are grateful for the strong cooperation we have had with IndiGo over the past eighteen months. It has been a valuable experience for Norse Atlantic.
“However, there is no doubt that the elevated fuel prices, airspace disruptions and longer flight routes resulting from the Middle East conflict have affected the commercial viability of the arrangement for both parties. We have therefore jointly concluded that alternative deployment of the aircraft will be more commercially beneficial to both parties.”
Norse said it is already talking to other airlines about leasing opportunities, and also ‘intends to deploy part of the returning fleet within its own network for increased production on selected profitable routes during the upcoming winter season, such as flights from Europe to Orlando and New York’.
It confirmed it is going ahead with a strategic review, which could mean the airline is sold or merged.
Norse said: “The transition provides Norse Atlantic with greater fleet flexibility as the Company advances its strategic review. Given the level of interest received to date as part of the strategic review, the Board has decided to move forward with a formal process, which may result in a sale, merger or partnership. Further information will be provided as and when appropriate.”
Eivind added: “The return of these six aircraft opens up strategic opportunities that were not available to us before. We are seeing strong demand for modern, fuel-efficient long-haul aircraft, and we also see attractive opportunities to deploy additional capacity within our own network. Our priority is to use this increased flexibility to improve profitability and create long-term value for our shareholders.”
