IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, has officially named Mumbai as the Indian gateway for its debut European routes. The carrier will launch new non-stop services from both Amsterdam Schiphol and Manchester to Mumbai in early July, marking a significant milestone in its long-haul ambitions.
After first announcing plans for European expansion in March—without disclosing the Indian destination—IndiGo has now confirmed that the new routes will commence with thrice-weekly frequencies. Service from Manchester to Mumbai will begin on 1 July, followed by Amsterdam to Mumbai on 2 July.
The new flights will operate on the following schedule:
- Manchester–Mumbai: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
- Amsterdam–Mumbai: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Initially, the routes will be served by Boeing 787 Dreamliners leased from Norse Atlantic Airways, with IndiGo expected to deploy its own wide-body aircraft on the routes later this year.
“This is an exciting step forward for IndiGo as we stretch our wings further into Europe,” said Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo. “These new connections enhance accessibility and convenience for customers travelling for business, leisure, or education, while also opening up our vast domestic network to international travellers.”
The move signals IndiGo’s first foray into direct intercontinental service to Europe, leveraging Mumbai’s status as a major commercial hub and aviation gateway. With its growing international footprint and focus on high-demand routes, the airline is positioning itself as a serious contender in the long-haul travel market, while continuing to build one of the most expansive domestic networks in Asia.
This expansion also marks a shift in strategy for IndiGo, traditionally a narrow-body operator focused on regional routes, as it transitions to long-haul markets with a competitive value proposition and increasing fleet capabilities.
For European travellers, the new routes offer a direct and efficient link to India’s financial capital, while also providing seamless onward connections across the subcontinent via IndiGo’s extensive domestic network.
