IndiGo Reveals Two European Cities as First Long-Haul Destinations
Skift Take
Key Points
- IndiGo announced its first long-haul destinations, Amsterdam and Manchester, with flights starting in July.
- The routes will use Boeing 787-9 planes from Norse Atlantic Airways under a damp lease agreement.
- IndiGo plans to expand further into Europe, evaluating other markets and increasing flight frequencies.
Summary
IndiGo has announced Amsterdam and Manchester as its first long-haul destinations, with flights expected to begin in July using Boeing 787-9 planes leased from Norse Atlantic Airways. This move marks IndiGo's entry into the European market, with plans to expand further by evaluating additional markets and potentially increasing flight frequencies as more planes join their fleet. The new routes are part of IndiGo's strategy to establish a long-haul presence ahead of receiving new Airbus jets in 2027.
IndiGo has ended months of speculation with the announcement of its first long-haul destinations. On Thursday, the Indian carrier confirmed Amsterdam and Manchester will be served nonstop from Delhi.
The new routes will initially be operated by leased aircraft. The Boeing 787-9 planes are sourced from Norse Atlantic Airways and will be flown under a ‘damp lease’ agreement.
This means the plane and some of its crew will be provided from Norse, with IndiGo back-filling other roles. The contract was recently extended, with further 787s joining the IndiGo fleet before the end of 2025.
Pieter Elbers, IndiGo CEO said: "Today, we unlock a new and very exciting chapter in IndiGo's growth journey, connecting India to the heart of Europe. These new flights will benefit both our existing and potential customers who fly on these routes.”
IndiGo said the Norse aircraft will enable the airline to “make an early entry into the long-haul market and establish itself in Europe.”
Hundreds of New Planes on Order
IndiGo has more new planes on order than almost any other global airline.
In April last year, it placed its first-ever order for 30 A350 widebody aircraft with Airbus, indicating its plans to operate on long-haul routes. Speaking at the time, Elbers said that the deal would allow IndiGo to embark on its next phase of becoming one of the leading global aviation players. It also has hundreds of smaller A320 Family jets on the way.
The Indian carrier is due to receive its first A321XLR aircraft in the 2026 fiscal year and A350 widebody planes from 2027.
IndiGo's only other experience operating large twin-aisle aircraft is with the Boeing 777. It rosters the 400-seater plane through a damp lease agreement with Turkish Airlines on the Mumbai to Istanbul route.
Both Amsterdam and Manchester routes will operate three-times weekly and are due to begin in July. The services are subject to final regulatory approvals and what IndiGo describes as “operational preparedness.”
The airline hinted that frequencies could grow further as additional Norse planes join the IndiGo fleet. It also confirmed it is “evaluating multiple other important markets across Europe.”
India's 'Place on the Global Stage'
In an interview with Skift last year, Elbers said: “Looking at the size of the population, India’s taken its rightful place on the global stage. That’s really helping to further boost international travel, so that’s been a very important cornerstone of our strategy.”
The launch of long-haul services comes at a time when the Indian aviation market is undergoing a significant shift.
With Indian carriers holding a 43% share of the country’s international passenger traffic last fiscal year—a figure that has been on the rise—there is an appetite for more comprehensive international connectivity.
Credit rating agency CRISIL Ratings projects that this market share could edge up to 50% by the 2027-28 fiscal year, underscoring the potential for growth.
Pieter Elbers is due to speak at the Skift India Forum in Delhi on March 18. To learn more and to book your ticket, visit live.skift.com.
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Photo Credit: IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers. IndiGo
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