Manchester Airport has announced a brand-new direct link to India, making it the only airport in the northern part of the UK with a direct connection.
IndiGo, the largest airline in India, made the announcement about the introduction of two major European routes set to commence this summer from Manchester and Amsterdam. These new connections mark IndiGo’s premiere venture into the European travel market.
The service is set to run three times a week starting July 2025, with the caveat that all necessary operational readiness and requisite regulatory green lights must be achieved beforehand. The team at Manchester Airport has expressed great enthusiasm for this development, seeing it as a testament to their status as one of Europe’s most rapidly evolving airports.
Travellers are also set to benefit from the the £1.3 billion transformation project at Terminal 2.
Manchester Airport’s Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said: “Here at Manchester Airport our mission is to connect the North with the world, helping people visit new places, connecting businesses with key global markets, and welcoming tourists and investors to our region. That is why I am proud that IndiGo – India’s biggest carrier – has chosen Manchester, alongside Amsterdam, as its first ever European destinations.
“The news cements Manchester’s position as one of Europe’s fastest-growing airports – serving more than 30m passengers annually – and as the UK’s global gateway in the North. This new service will be the only direct route to India from the North of the UK and will be popular with the more than half a million people with Indian heritage who live within Manchester Airport’s catchment area.
“We also know that connectivity is a key enabler of trade and productivity. By providing direct access to the world’s fastest-growing major economy, this route will deliver a significant boost to the government’s economic growth mission and comes on the back of positive progress towards a UK-India trade deal.
“It’s an exciting time for relations between the North of England and India, with a new Indian Consulate opening in Manchester this weekend and a number of cultural, sporting, social and economic partnerships being agreed in recent months. For many years, the region has worked hard to create ever-closer ties with India and there is much on the horizon – including this summer’s England vs India Test series.
“I look forward to welcoming IndiGo’s team to Manchester, and the UK, and supporting their success and future growth.”
The new route will offer Manchester Airport passengers further connections with IndiGo’s comprehensive network in domestic India and Asia, which opens up tourism opportunities as well as providing a connection for people visiting relatives, family and friends.
Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer at IndiGo said: “Today, we unlock a new and very exciting chapter in IndiGo’s growth journey, connecting India to the heart of Europe. We’re thrilled to announce our first-ever long-haul destinations – Manchester and Amsterdam.
“India has strong ties both with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for business and tourism; and there is a large Indian diaspora who live in these countries. These new flights will benefit both our existing and potential customers who fly on these routes. These new IndiGo long-haul routes are steps towards inching closer to realising our shared vision to build India into a global aviation hub.
“Personally, I’m delighted to introduce IndiGo’s services to the Netherlands, a country with which India, my present home, shares a rich history of trade, collaboration, and air connectivity. The United Kingdom is an important market for us, and we’re excited to announce direct flights between India and Manchester.”
