Boost for North as Manchester-Mumbai route expands

Manchester Airport’s only direct connection to Mumbai has proved so popular that it will increase in frequency from Monday, 22nd Sepetember.

Thousands of people have used the three-times-per-week route between Manchester Airport and Mumbai since it launched in July – becoming IndiGo’s first European route in the process. Now IndiGo has announced that the route has increased to four weekly services from today.

The expansion has been welcomed by Manchester’s Consul General of India and the Manchester India Partnership, who have spoken about the benefits the route has already brought to the North.

Even before the increase, a study from independent experts Metro-Dynamics backed the route to deliver an economic boost worth hundreds of millions to the North over the next three years through exports, employment, visitors to the region and more. Now that benefit is set to be turbo-charged by the increased frequency:

• It is likely to support a £32.9m increase in exports from the region to India
• An extra £11.8m a year will be spent by additional Indian visitors to the region
• Around 250 jobs – including direct, supply chain and wider supporting roles – will be created
• It will drive £12.1m of economic value to the North each year
• It will support international innovation, stimulating a rise in UK-India patents and academic citations
• It will deliver a major boost for people who already travel from Manchester Airport to Mumbai, but previously had to travel indirectly. Cost, time and productivity savings worth £9m a year will be unlocked

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:

“Here at Manchester Airport we are proud to connect the North to the World and few routes epitomise what that really means more than IndiGo’s connection to Mumbai.

“It’s connecting travellers to a vibrant and exciting destination, businesses to one of the world’s biggest financial hubs and the North’s Indian diaspora to friends and family.

“That’s why it’s no surprise that IndiGo is increasing the frequency of the route already. We all ways knew a connection between the UK’s global gateway in the North and India’s financial capital would be popular – and that has proven to be the case.

“This is obviously great news for people and businesses in the region – because we know that this route is driving economic benefits worth many millions of pounds each year – but it’s also a real statement of intent from IndiGo and I’m looking forward to our continued partnership.”

Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said:

“International expansion is a key pillar of IndiGo’s next phase of growth, and like any global airline, the UK represents a strategically important market for us.

“The Mumbai-Manchester route, in particular, holds a special place in our journey, as it marked our foray into long-haul international operations.”

“Since its launch in July 2025, the route has consistently see a positive customer response and high uptake, reaffirming our proposition on the route. Encouraged by this strong response, we are pleased to announce an increase in frequency on this route and look forward to adding more capacity in due course.”

IndiGo is India’s biggest airline and launched the route between Mumbai and Manchester – its first European and first long-haul route – on 1 July using a Boeing 787-Dreamliner. It was welcomed by business, political and community leaders and came just after the opening of Manchester Indian Consulate.

Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester, said:

“The enhanced frequency of direct flights between Mumbai and Manchester is a welcome development that reflects the growing strength of Manchester-India Partnership.

“This vital connection not only brings our communities closer but also unlocks new opportunities for trade, investment, education, and tourism, especially with the sealed CECA between India and the UK.

“Therefore, the enhanced frequency of four days a week is timely and paves the way for deeper collaborations.

“The Consulate General of India in Manchester is proud to support this partnership and welcomes this development as a symbol of the deepening bonds of friendship and cooperation between our nations.

“We look forward to working together with Manchester Airport and Indigo, to ensure that this route continues to flourish and deliver lasting benefits for both India and the North of England.”

Jo Ahmed, co-chair of the Manchester India Partnership, said:

“The additional of an extra frequency is great news for anyone with an interest in Manchester-India relations.

“The news tells us what we already knew – that there are significant cultural, economic and social ties between the two locations and the relationship will only get deeper as a result of this enhanced connectivity.”

IndiGo is India’s biggest airline. Last year it served more than 118m passengers across its network of more than 90 destinations in India and 40 international destinations. It has a fleet of more than 400 aircraft.

Travellers going between Manchester and Mumbai will enjoy complimentary hot meals on-board and can choose between an economy service and the airline’s new IndiGoStretch service, which is aimed at business travellers.

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the financial capital of India and one of the most populous cities in the world. Located on the west coast along the Arabian Sea, Mumbai is the centre of the Hindi film industry and a thriving hub for commerce, fashion, and entertainment.