IndiGo Temporarily Halts Manchester Flights Amid Airspace Constraints and Rising Operating Costs
National, June 2, 2026 - IndiGo has announced the temporary discontinuation of its flight operations to and from Manchester, effective August 31, 2026. The airline stated that this decision was necessitated by continued international airspace constraints, which have led to significantly increased flight durations and a challenging operational cost environment.As a result of the withdrawal, IndiGo plans to return one of the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which were taken on a damp/wet lease, to Norse Atlantic Airways. The airline confirmed that all its remaining long-haul flights will continue to operate as planned.
IndiGo had initially damp leased the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways in early 2025. The objective of this endeavor was to establish the IndiGo brand in the European market, ahead of the launch of services using the company's own Airbus A350 aircraft.
However, the airline cited a significant impact from prevailing industry-wide challenges. These challenges include geopolitical developments in the Middle East, rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs, severe airspace constraints, and foreign exchange volatility, collectively causing operational costs to be considerably higher than initially foreseen.
Addressing the operational changes, Abhijit Dasgupta, Senior Vice President - Network Planning & Revenue Management, stated, 'We inducted these wide-body aircraft on a short-term basis to fast-track our connectivity to high potential long-haul destinations such as Manchester. It is, therefore, unfortunate that longer flying times due to airspace constraints coupled with drastically escalating costs compelled us to take the decision to temporarily discontinue our India - Manchester services.'
Mr. Dasgupta added that the response and support from customers and trade partners in both India and the UK reinforced the airline's belief in its long-haul potential, confirming that this discontinuation is temporary. IndiGo stated it looks forward to serving the route again at the earliest viable opportunity and is exploring innovative solutions to continue its collaboration with Norse Atlantic Airways.
Affected customers will be notified in advance and assisted with all possible options, including alternate travel arrangements or refunds, where applicable.
Operational Overview
The airline operates a vast network across India and internationally, serving a significant customer base with its expansive fleet.| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Fleet | 400+ |
| Daily Flights | Around 2200+ |
| Domestic Destinations | 95+ |
| International Destinations | 40+ |
| Customers Welcomed (CY25) | 124 million |
IndiGo has been recognized for its reliability, having been named the 'Best Airline in India and South Asia' by Skytrax at the World Airline Awards 2025, and the sixth Most Punctual Airline in Asia-Pacific in 2025 by Cirium.
INDIGO Stock Price Movement
On Tuesday, InterGlobe Aviation Limited shares edged higher, settling at ₹4466.1, and gained 0.45% for the day. The stock traded on 1.09 million shares and saw a daily range from ₹4389.2 to ₹4480.2.Disclaimer: Due care and diligence have been taken in compiling and presenting news and market-related content. However, errors or omissions may arise despite such efforts.
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