IndiGo Adds Two New Europe Routes from Mumbai with 787

dailyblitz.de 7 hours ago

MUMBAI— India’s largest airline, IndiGo Airlines (6E), is making significant strides into the long-haul international market. The airline has announced the launch of two new European routes: Mumbai (BOM) to Manchester (MAN) and Mumbai to Amsterdam (AMS).

Beginning July 1 and July 2, respectively, these new flights will be operated using the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This will mark a new phase in IndiGo’s international ambitions. The move ensures more efficient routings and better operational viability, especially for nonstop services into Western Europe.

This development marks a milestone for IndiGo, as it forays into long-haul, full-service style offerings while maintaining its budget model.

Mumbai to Europe: The New Long-Haul Gateway

Mumbai – Manchester

Starting July 1, IndiGo will begin a three-times-weekly nonstop service from Mumbai to Manchester. This route holds strong cultural and economic importance due to a large Indian diaspora, particularly from Gujarat, in northern England.

Flight 6E031 departs from Mumbai at 04:15 am IST and will reach Manchester at 09:15 am local time.
Flight 6E032 departs Manchester at 12:00 pm local time and will reach Mumbai at 01:35 am IST the next day.

This is IndiGo’s first direct service to the United Kingdom. This is also only its second route operated with its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The Manchester route is expected to compete with both full-service and one-stop players, offering affordable fares and nonstop convenience to travelers. Mumbai had a non-stop connection to Manchester earlier by Jet Airways.

Mumbai – Amsterdam

Following closely on July 2, IndiGo will launch another long-haul flight. The airline will start three-times-weekly service to Amsterdam, a strategic European hub for both business and tourism. The Netherlands has seen growing traffic from India, with increasing trade ties, tourism exchanges, and student movement.

Flight 6E021 will depart from Mumbai at 05:20 am IST and will reach Amsterdam at 11:00 am local time.
Flight 6E022 will depart from Amsterdam at 01:00 pm local time and will reach Mumbai at 01:55 am IST the next day.

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport also offers seamless connections to the rest of Europe and North America via IndiGo’s partner airlines through codeshare agreements, adding to the network depth for Indian travelers.

Complimentary Meals Onboard

IndiGo’s Boeing 787-9 is configured with a two-class layout—economy and “IndiGo Stretch,” which offers more legroom and enhanced recline. While sticking to its low-cost roots, the airline has adapted to the new change for long-haul travelers.

All passengers in economy and Stretch class will receive complimentary hot vegetarian meals. Those preferring non-vegetarian options will need to pre-book them during ticket purchase. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase in economy class, while Stretch passengers may receive complimentary options depending on fare inclusions.

This marks one of the first times IndiGo is providing hot meals and premium services onboard—a notable shift from its traditional buy-on-board model. Both routes will be operated by IndiGo’s flagship Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Strategic Shift from Delhi to Mumbai

These two new long-haul routes were initially planned from Delhi, but with the continued closure of Pakistani airspace, operating westbound flights from North India has become operationally difficult. Rerouting over longer southern paths adds extra fuel burn and reduces payload efficiency.

IndiGo can avoid Pakistani airspace by shifting operations to Mumbai. This ensures optimal routing and minimizes operational disruption. Mumbai’s geographical location provides better westbound access for nonstop services to Europe, allowing IndiGo to keep flight times and costs competitive.

This shift also strategically positions Mumbai as a key long-haul hub for IndiGo, complementing its existing dominance in short- and medium-haul international operations across Asia and the Middle East.

IndiGo’s Long-Haul Strategy Taking Shape

With two major European destinations now on its map, IndiGo is gradually moving into a more global arena. Its decision to offer a differentiated in-flight product for long-haul routes shows the airline’s understanding of evolving passenger expectations.

These launches come at a time when demand for Europe–India travel is surging post-pandemic. The India–Europe market is still underserved in terms of nonstop connectivity. We will likely see IndiGo expand further into Europe from Delhi once they receives more Boeing 787-9s.

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