Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, welcomed the new route, stating that it makes Manchester the only airport in the North of England with a direct connection to India. “This cements our position as one of Europe’s best-connected airports,” he added.
Based in Gurugram, IndiGo’s choice to operate European flights from Mumbai comes at a time when Pakistan’s airspace closure continues to impact flight paths from Delhi, resulting in longer routes and higher operational costs. Mumbai-based operations are expected to save the airline both time and fuel.
IndiGo stated that this is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in its growth journey, with Amsterdam and Manchester serving as its initial long-haul destinations. “With the introduction of more Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse, and the arrival of IndiGo’s A321XLRs starting this year, followed by the A350s from 2027, a new era will begin—enabling the airline to offer long-haul services with IndiGo’s unique value proposition,” the statement said.
On the Mumbai–Amsterdam route, Elbers noted that the airline is “stretching its wings further” to enhance accessibility and convenience for customers travelling to Europe for leisure, business, and education. He added that these new routes would also help showcase IndiGo’s extensive domestic network to international travellers, promoting the concept of “India by IndiGo”.