DELHI- India’s largest LCC, IndiGo Airlines (6E), has taken a significant step towards expanding its global footprint by securing slots at two United Kingdom (UK) airports. The slots are granted to IndiGo at London Gatwick (LGW) and Manchester (MAN), as per the ACL Start of Season Report.
This move aligns with the airline’s ambitious long-haul plans. However, a crucial factor remains to be seen. Whether IndiGo will obtain slots at London Heathrow (LHR), the UK’s busiest and most prestigious airport.
IndiGo London Flights
While securing slots at Gatwick and Manchester is a notable achievement, Heathrow might remain IndiGo’s top priority for its London operations. This must not be surprising, as London-Heathrow is the most sought-after airport for any global airline in U.K.
Heathrow is a primary hub for global traffic. With its strong base, Heathrow would provide IndiGo with access to a high-yield passenger base and premium traffic. However, Heathrow slots are highly competitive and limited. The limited slots make it uncertain for IndiGo to be able to commence operations from there.
If Heathrow slots are not secured, IndiGo may initiate UK operations from Gatwick, similar to how Air India (AI) reintroduced flights to London Gatwick instead of Heathrow due to slot constraints. Air India’s shift of operations made sense as the airline moved the low-yielding sectors. Air India’s Kochi, Goa and Amritsar operations were moved to Gatwick.
However, it is different in IndiGo’s case. IndiGo will be connecting India’s top metro city airports—Delhi and Mumbai—with London. These two Indian cities cater high-yielding passengers to London. Hence, Heathrow airport makes the most sense for IndiGo.
The Manchester slots, on the other hand, signal IndiGo’s intent to tap into Northern England’s Indian diaspora, student traffic, and business travel market. Currently, there is no non-stop flights between India and Manchester.
Amsterdam and Manchester Confirmed
IndiGo officially announced its first-ever direct long-haul flights to Amsterdam and Manchester a few days ago. The announcement came just days before the ACL report was released. The flights to Amsterdam and Manchester will start in July 2025, as of now.
These new routes mark a major shift for the airline, which has so far focused primarily on short- and medium-haul international routes. The airline will operate 3x weekly flights to Amsterdam (AMS) and Manchester (MAN) starting July 2025. The official date and bookings on these flights are yet to open.
The Manchester route will be the only direct flight between India and Northern UK. Amsterdam will help 6E strengthen its partnership with Air France-KLM. IndiGo will deploy leased Boeing 787-9 from Norse Atlantic.
The bookings on these new routes will entirely depend on the timeline of the next 787-9 delivery from Norse. Hence, the tentative date announced as of now is July 2025. IndiGo aims to establish itself in the long-haul segment before its Airbus A321XLR and A350 deliveries from 2027.
CEO Pieter Elbers emphasized the airline’s goal of turning India into a global aviation hub. IndiGo is strengthening connectivity between India and Europe over the next few months. The airline has already built a presence in Europe through codeshare agreements with Turkish Airlines, Air France–KLM, etc. This expansion will solidify IndiGo’s independent operations in the region.
What lies ahead for IndiGo’s Europe Strategy?
While securing slots at Gatwick and Manchester is a major step forward, Heathrow’s availability will determine how IndiGo structures its UK strategy. The potential addition of London flights, alongside Amsterdam and Manchester, could pave the way for more long-haul destinations in the coming years.
IndiGo’s aggressive expansion is a clear indicator of its long-term ambition to compete globally, moving beyond its low-cost carrier identity into the full-fledged long-haul international segment. IndiGo has the right slots, fleet, and network strategy.
IndiGo is well positioned to revolutionize India’s outbound travel market to Europe and beyond.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
