Budget airline launches first UK flights to one of the world's busiest cities

Business Mayor

21-05-2025

LOW-COST carrier IndiGo has launched its first flight from the UK and it isn't from London.
The Indian airline has confirmed that the new route will operate from Manchester, flying to Mumbai three times a week.
3 IndiGo is launching its first UK flight this summer Credit: Alamy
Launching from July 1, tickets are already on sale.
It will be the first flight route for IndiGo from the UK, having previously revealed plans to launch from Europe.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said: 'The new route will provide seamless connection to a vast majority of 90+ Indian destinations on IndiGo's domestic network benefiting customers travelling from Manchester to Mumbai.
'This service by IndiGo will thereby further enhance connectivity between India and the UK, fostering stronger economic, educational, and cultural ties.
'Beyond supporting the growing Indian diaspora in the region, these direct flights are expected to boost two-way tourism, ease travel for students, professionals and leisure travellers , and unlock new avenues for bilateral trade and collaboration between the two countries.'
Currently, Brits can fly from the UK to Mumbai with both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as flag carrier Air India .
The cheapest route is from London Heathrow with Air India, costing £457 return and taking just under nine hours.
The new IndiGo flights are a similar price, being £447 return when they launch in July.
Passengers will be served hot meals in both economy and the IndiGo Stretch cabin, made for business travellers .
Another route from Amsterdam to Mumbai will also later be launched by IndiGo.
3 The Taj Mahal Palace is one of the main attractions Credit: Alamy
Mumbai is one of the busiest cities in the world, with around 19million people living there.
This makes it one of the world's 53 megacities, which are ones with more than 10million inhabitants (which also includes London).
Mumbai is also the home of Bollywood movies, with around 200 produced a year.
One of the main attractions in the city is the beautiful Taj Mahal Palace, not to be confused with the Taj Mahal attraction in Agra.
And earlier this year, Mumbai made Time Out's top 20 food destinations in the world.
Restaurants such as Masque have featured on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list while Papa's is on TIME's World's Greatest Places for 2025.
It even snuck into 49th place on Time Out's World's Best Cities 2025.
In the mean time, Air India is increasing its routes from the UK to Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad and Delhi.
And here is what Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder got up to in India for their BBC series last year,