IndiGo makes Manchester its only direct link from the North with long-haul India route

Manchester will be one of the first two direct long-haul European routes by India’s biggest airline, IndiGo.

It means Manchester Airport will offer the only direct route to India from the North of England.

IndiGo will also fly into  Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

The flights are set to launch three times a week in the summer. Further information will be set out in the coming weeks ahead of tickets going on sale.

India is the world’s fastest growing major economy.

Last December plans to forge even closer ties between Greater Manchester and India were revealed during a multi-city trade and tourism delegation.

The delegation of senior figures from the Manchester India Partnership (MIP) undertook a strategic multi-city trip across India, championing economic and cultural exchange.

A highlight of the trade and tourism mission was the news surrounding an Indian Consular presence in Greater Manchester, which was warmly received by the city region.

The news of the new link was welcomed by  MIP Chair Simon Arora who said: “Securing a direct route between Manchester and India has been one of the MIP’s top priorities for many years.

“That is because we understand the vital role connectivity has in unlocking economic, cultural and educational opportunities.

“The fact IndiGo has chosen Manchester for its first UK service underlines the strong connections that are already in place and the synergies between our economies.

“Everyone at MIP looks forward to that ties growing stronger and deeper once this exciting new route launches in the coming months.”

The route was announced ahead of the opening of Manchester’s new Indian Consulate on Saturday. The consulate will mean people from India can access like passport services and more without having to travel to Birmingham.

There are more than 500,000 people of Indian heritage living within two hours of Manchester Airport.

Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, also MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, said: “As a Manchester MP and UK Trade Secretary who returned from New Delhi last month having relaunched trade talks with India, I know this news will be hugely welcomed by businesses and visitors who can’t wait to take advantage of easier, direct flights between India and the North.

“We in the UK are lucky to have a strong relationship with India underpinned by close personal connections and a £41bn trading relationship that will only grow larger thanks to closer connections such as this.

“I’m excited to see these new flight routes open up – a further sign of growth and confidence in the UK economy.”

India is Greater Manchester’s fastest growing partner country for service exports. These more than doubled across the period 2019-2022 and are now worth £337m to the Greater Manchester economy.

Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport managing director, said: “Here at Manchester Airport our mission is to connect the north with the world, helping people visit new places, connecting businesses with key global markets, and welcoming tourists and investors to our region.

“That is why I am proud that IndiGo – India’s biggest carrier – has chosen Manchester, alongside Amsterdam, as its first ever European destinations. 

“The news cements Manchester’s position as one of Europe’s fastest growing airports – serving more than 30 million passengers annually – and as the UK’s global gateway in the North.”

He added: “This new service will be the only direct route to India from the north of the UK and will be popular with the more than half a million people with Indian heritage who live within Manchester Airport’s catchment area.

”We also know that connectivity is a key enabler of trade and productivity. By providing direct access to the world’s fastest growing major economy, this route will deliver a significant boost to the Government’s economic growth mission and comes on the back of positive progress towards a UK-India trade deal.

”It’s an exciting time for relations between the North of England and India, with a new Indian Consulate opening in Manchester this weekend and a number of cultural, sporting, social and economic partnerships being agreed in recent months.”

 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. We’re thrilled to announce our first ever long-haul destinations – Manchester and Amsterdam.

“India has strong ties both with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for business and tourism; and there is a large Indian diaspora who live in these countries. These new flights will benefit both our existing and potential customers who fly on these routes.”

He added: “These new IndiGo long-haul routes are steps towards inching closer to realising our shared vision to build India into a global aviation hub.”

“The United Kingdom is an important market for us, and we’re excited to announce direct flights between India and Manchester.”