FLIGHTS from Manchester to India have been scrapped less than one year after they started.
Low-cost carrier IndiGo is axing both of its routes from the UK later this year due to rising fuel costs and airspace restrictions.
IndiGo began operating two routes from Manchester in July 2025 – to Mumbai and Delhi but these will come to a stop on August 31.
These flights marked the airline’s first services between India and Europe,
While other airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and Air India offer flights to India from London, IndiGo’s were much cheaper from Manchester.
One-way flights between Manchester and Mumbai started from £290.
The airline has said one of the reasons for axing the routes is the rising cost of fuel caused by the Iran War.
IndiGo will hand back its leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Norse Atlantic later this year.
IndiGo Senior Vice President – Network Planning & Revenue Management Abhijit Dasgupta said: “We inducted these leased wide-body aircraft to fast-track our connectivity to high potential long-haul destinations such as Manchester and witnessed very encouraging demand response.
“It is, therefore, unfortunate that longer flying times due to airspace constraints combined with dramatically escalating costs compelled us to take the decision to discontinue India –Manchester services.
“The response and support for these services have reinforced our belief in the opportunity for IndiGo’s long-haul ambitions, and we are convinced that this discontinuation is temporary.”
He added that he hoped to serve the routes again at the “earliest viable opportunity”.
Norse Atlantic Airways has said that the returned aircraft will later be “deployed by Norse Atlantic in its upcoming winter program for direct flights between Europe and Thailand”.
Once the routes are axed, there will be no direct links between Manchester and India.
Other airlines like Air India and Virgin Atlantic still connect the UK to India – but fly out of London instead.