IndiGo Plans to Add 2 fresh Europe Routes and Goes large from Delhi

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DELHI- IndiGo Airlines (6E) is planning to add more flights in the European long-haul market with two new UK routes starting in the Winter 2025/26 schedule.

The airline plans to operate Mumbai-London Heathrow and Delhi-Manchester services. This could be the airline’s first-ever entry into the UK’s busiest airport and the competitive India-London market.

IndiGo Plans New Europe Routes

London Heathrow Routes

IndiGo has secured slots at London Heathrow through a lease agreement with Virgin Atlantic (VS). The airline has 14 weekly slots – 7 arrivals and 7 departures – at Terminal 3. The slots, as of now, are going to be leased to IndiGo between October 26, 2025, and March 28, 2026.

Scheduling data shows the aircraft type as Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Norse with 338 seats. Using wet-leased widebody aircraft has allowed IndiGo to enter the long-haul market without major fleet commitments. This reduces financial risk while the airline learns the complexities of operating extended routes.

The Mumbai-London route is one of the most lucrative from India. IndiGo will compete directly against Air India, Virgin Atlantic, and British Airways. Combined, these three airlines operate 7 daily flights on the route. IndiGo’s entry into London brings its low-cost pricing approach to a market traditionally dominated by full-service carriers.

Delhi to Manchester

The Delhi-Manchester route is another planned route by IndiGo. The airline has filed and plans to launch this route from November 15, 2025. Flights are expected to operate four times weekly, along with three times weekly, Mumbai-Manchester.

Here’s the Flight schedule is as below:

Flight 6E033: Delhi 04:05 → Manchester 09:30 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)
Flight 6E034: Manchester 11:15 → Delhi 02:10+1 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)

The route is not open for bookings. IndiGo will be the only Indian carrier flying directly between Delhi and Manchester, just like Mumbai-Manchester. The service shall target VFR traffic, students, and business travelers.

Northern England has substantial Indian diaspora populations, and Manchester serves as a gateway to cities like Birmingham, Leeds, and Liverpool. Manchester’s four-weekly frequency indicates measured market entry.

The timing allows morning arrivals in Manchester and overnight returns to Delhi, which will help IndiGo get transit passengers.

What This Means for the India-UK Market

IndiGo has started building its Europe network, which is a departure from the traditional short- and medium-haul focus. The airline has built its network primarily around Gulf and Southeast Asian destinations. This, in turn, is helping IndiGo now feed their European services from other Southeast Asian cities via Mumbai.

The India-UK market remains strong despite existing competition. Business travel, tourism, education, and diaspora connections create consistent demand. IndiGo’s entry could pressure existing carriers on pricing, and it will potentially stimulate additional traffic through lower fares.

Heathrow slots are notoriously difficult to obtain. The lease arrangement with Virgin Atlantic provides temporary access while IndiGo tests market response. If the route performs well during the winter schedule, the airline may seek a further slot lease or consider other European destinations otherwise.

Competition and How IndiGo Plans to Operate

Air India and the UK carriers currently dominate the India-UK market with multiple daily flights to London. Air India also operates to Birmingham. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate only from London to Delhi, Mumbai, and three other Indian cities.

Virgin Atlantic’s indirect involvement through the slot lease is interesting. The carrier operates its own India routes and may rather see IndiGo as a feed source for its network through codeshare arrangements.

Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad have significant market share in India-UK traffic through their hubs. IndiGo’s direct services could attract passengers who are particularly price-sensitive travelers willing to trade some service elements for lower fares.

New International Routes from Delhi Hub

As part of its latest network expansion, IndiGo is also boosting connectivity from the Delhi Hub to Southeast Asia. The airline is adding new international destinations and increasing frequencies on existing routes. The new services should allow the airline to increase its presence in Southeast Asia and help feed its European routes from Delhi.

Delhi – Denpasar, Bali (Indonesia)

IndiGo is set to strengthen its footprint in Southeast Asia by launching a daily service between Delhi and Denpasar, Bali, starting October 24, 2025. This new nonstop route offers Indian travelers direct access to Bali, one of the world’s most popular leisure destinations, now on IndiGo.

The flights will be operated using Airbus A320 family aircraft, with a brief refueling halt at Bhubaneswar on the outbound as well as the inbound leg. This will be IndiGo’s 3rd route to Bali after Bengaluru and Mumbai. IndiGo will be competing with Air India’s nonstop.

Delhi – Krabi (Thailand)

IndiGo is expanding its Thai network further with a 3rd route from India to Krabi. IndiGo will introduce four weekly flights between Delhi and Krabi effective October 26, 2025. Operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This service will provide a direct link to one of Thailand’s most scenic beach destinations from Delhi. The airline currently serves Bengaluru and Mumbai to Krabi.

Krabi is a growing alternative to Phuket, offering pristine beaches and adventure tourism. Flights on this sector will be operated with IndiGo’s Airbus A320 aircraft. Bengaluru flights will be reduced to 3 times a week to facilitate Delhi flights. With the addition of Krabi, IndiGo now deepens its Thai connectivity from Delhi, complementing its services to Bangkok and Phuket. flight to Bali from Delhi.

Delhi – Bangkok (Increased Frequency)

Recognizing the strong demand on the Delhi–Bangkok route, IndiGo will double its service to twice-daily flights starting October 26, 2025. This move significantly enhances capacity between the two capitals. Bangkok remains one of IndiGo’s most important Southeast Asian destinations and one of the top destinations for IndiGo.

The airline flies to Bangkok from eight Indian cities, serving as both a tourist hotspot and a regional transit hub. In total, IndiGo operates 8 daily flights. The enhanced frequency from Delhi will help IndiGo in supporting robust India–Thailand travel demand. This further elevates Delhi’s role as a key hub for international connectivity and makes it much stronger.

Bottom Line

IndiGo’s domestic network provides feed traffic from cities across India, giving it an advantage over carriers without extensive Indian operations.

IndiGo’s massive domestic market share gives it a unique advantage. It can connect passengers from tier-2 and tier-3 Indian cities to European destinations through Delhi and Mumbai hubs, something international carriers cannot easily replicate.

The carrier’s approach – testing European routes with leased capacity before committing to fleet changes – mirrors strategies other low-cost carriers have used when expanding into long-haul markets.

Norwegian and AirAsia X tried similar models with mixed results, showing the challenges of making long-haul low-cost work.

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