Budget Airline Introduces Long-Haul Flights to Its Lineup
IndiGo Enters Long-Haul Travel with Mumbai-Manchester Route
IndiGo, India's leading low-cost carrier, has made its entry into long-haul travel with a thrice-weekly nonstop link between Mumbai, India's financial capital, and Manchester, the north of England's key aviation hub. This marks a significant step in IndiGo's global growth plan.
Passengers travelling in economy can expect a generous 30kg of checked baggage, 7kg of hand luggage, complimentary hot meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. In-flight entertainment and the option to purchase alcoholic beverages, blankets, pillows, and amenity kits are also available.
For those seeking a more premium experience, IndiGo offers the Stretch cabin, an upgraded cabin with forward cabin roomier seating, extra legroom, power outlets, 46kg checked baggage allowance, 12kg hand luggage, lounge access at select airports, complimentary meals, snacks, and beverages, including alcohol, and blankets and pillows.
IndiGo is executing this global growth plan with military precision, adding one new aircraft a week until the end of the decade, and has over 900 aircraft on order, the world's largest aircraft backlog.
In addition to the Mumbai-Manchester route, IndiGo launched several long-haul and medium-long-haul international routes in 2025, expanding its footprint especially in Europe and the Middle East. Key routes include Delhi-Dubai and Delhi-Singapore on Airbus A321neos with IndiGoStretch service, and Mumbai-Dubai and Mumbai-Singapore via wet-leased Boeing 787s from Norse Atlantic.
IndiGoStretch is being progressively introduced on international routes, offering elevated comfort and service. On Norse Atlantic aircraft serving European long-haul routes, passengers can enjoy more legroom and spacious seating, complimentary hot meals, enhanced onboard service, and vegetarian meals as the default, with non-vegetarian options available on pre-booking.
IndiGo's CEO, Pieter Elbers, formerly of KLM, has clarified that the airline is not a bargain-basement airline but a straightforward, comprehensive option without the complexities that plague many legacy carriers. The airline's vast domestic network of more than 90 destinations means passengers landing in Mumbai can easily continue to cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Kochi.
Return fares between Manchester and Mumbai on IndiGo start at £426 in economy and £870 in Stretch, significantly undercutting legacy carriers on the same route. IndiGo is rolling out routes to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and London later this year, with more European destinations to follow in 2026. The Manchester-Mumbai route is the first direct link between the two cities in over a decade and the only nonstop flight to India from any UK airport outside London.
- This move by IndiGo, expanding into long-haul travel with the Mumbai-Manchester route, signifies a crucial advancement in the airline's business strategy, affecting not just the industry, but also the lifestyle and travel sectors.
- IndiGo's decision to venture into long-haul travel involves significant financial planning, as they aim to outperform competitors by offering competitive pricing, such as £426 for economy class and £870 for the Stretch cabin on the Mumbai-Manchester route.
- The growth plan executed by IndiGo,, with the addition of new aircraft and the introduction of international routes, notably in Europe and the Middle East, presents a significant shift in the travel industry landscape, potentially reshaping finance and commerce.
