IndiGo Opens Bookings for Manchester, Amsterdam via Istanbul

IndiGo on Wednesday began selling tickets for new services linking India with Manchester and Amsterdam, expanding its international footprint beyond its core low-cost network.

The budget carrier will operate flights from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam via Istanbul, in partnership with Turkish Airlines under a codeshare arrangement. Tickets are available now for travel on leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft supplied by Norse Atlantic.

Those Dreamliners are configured with 56 Premium Economy seats, marketed as “IndiGoStretch,” and 282 Economy class seats. IndiGoStretch passengers will receive complimentary hot meals and alcoholic beverages, while Economy customers will be offered meals and nonalcoholic drinks at no extra charge, with alcohol available for purchase.

The Manchester route addresses one of the highest-demand destinations currently unserved directly from India. Amsterdam already hosts daily services from KLM and Air India; KLM also flies from Mumbai and Bengaluru, and Air India operates from Delhi.

IndiGo has previously deployed its Airbus A320 family and a limited number of Boeing 777s on international routes, but those narrowbodies cannot match the range of the Dreamliner. By leasing 787-9s, the carrier gains the ability to open new long-haul sectors without waiting for its own widebody deliveries.

In recent months, IndiGo shifted its launch point for these routes from Delhi to Mumbai after the closure of Pakistani airspace disrupted flight planning. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport stands to benefit from the change, handling the first services on this network.

The airline’s move marks a challenge to Air India, now four years into its privatization and still rebuilding its long-haul schedule amid fleet upgrades. Air India’s existing daily Amsterdam service and forthcoming Airbus A350 deliveries position it as a direct competitor.

IndiGo already maintains partnerships with several global carriers, including Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Air France-KLM, American Airlines, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic. These alliances feed traffic into intercontinental flights at partner hubs in exchange for local market connectivity.

Industry analysts suggest that further collaboration could lead to codeshares or joint ventures on additional routes, potentially including Paris or London, depending on slot availability. An agreement to swap or lease landing rights would give IndiGo faster access to European gateways.

Despite its low-cost origins, IndiGo’s balance sheet and cost controls allow experimentation in premium markets. The airline has phased out Pratt & Whitney-powered A320neos in favor of CFM-equipped models, aligning its fleet strategy with long-haul ambitions.