IndiGo launches direct flights to Manchester, in long-haul debut
INDIAN carrier IndiGo this week inaugurated its first-ever, direct long-haul service connecting Mumbai and Manchester, United Kingdom.
The service, to be operated by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, will run three times a week.
Flight 6E 0031 will fly from Mumbai to Manchester on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Manchester-Mumbai flight, 6E 0032, will return on the same days.
This new direct connection will significantly enhance accessibility between Mumbai, India’s financial capital, and Manchester, a major economic and cultural hub in Northern England.
The service is expected to benefit business travellers, tourists, students, and the Indian diaspora residing in the United Kingdom, fostering stronger economic, educational, and cultural ties.
“As we embark on our long-haul journey with the launch of direct flights between Mumbai and Manchester, this moment marks our transition from a successful regional carrier to one with growing global relevance. This new service, operated by our Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, damp-leased from Norse Atlantic Airways, ensures greater comfort, seamless connectivity, and choice to our customers,” said IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers.
“We are also delighted to offer specially curated complimentary hot meals and beverages to all passengers, with an elevated dining and service experience. This milestone is also a reflection of IndiGo’s growing global ambition and its contribution to India’s emergence as a global aviation hub. We are confident that this route will not only serve the large diaspora but also strengthen the economic and cultural ties between the two countries,” he added.
The flight will feature a two-class cabin configuration comprising 56 IndiGoStretch seats and 282 Economy seats. All seats feature seatback screens for in-flight entertainment - around 300 hours of content with movies and TV shows across a balanced mix of comedy, romance, drama and action.
With its fleet of over 400 aircraft, the airline operates around 2,200 daily flights, connecting over 90 domestic and 40 international destinations. Over 118 million customers flew with the airline in FY25.
