As you are aware, it has been a month since IndiGo launched its new flights, the first international long-haul product, which currently operates between Mumbai and Amsterdam Schiphol on alternate days. I was on the first flight (Mumbai to Manchester), which brought me to Manchester. IndiGo will launch more of these flights as it gets more of its wet lease aircraft inducted from Norse Atlantic Airways in the coming days, and will (perhaps) make these daily flights, and then head to Copenhagen and London (Gatwick or Heathrow, unknown for now).
The Boeing 787-9 from Norse is a stopgap measure for IndiGo, for the next 18 months, while it waits for the first of their own 60 Airbus A350-900s to arrive in its fleet. However, it was also the start of a new era of IndiGo’s hybridisation, where we will see many more “different” things than what we are accustomed to. Here is a first look at IndiGo’s flights into Europe.
IndiGo adds more flights to Amsterdam and Manchester, as the second 787-9 arrives
IndiGo has now opened bookings for increased flight frequencies on its recently launched long-haul routes connecting Mumbai with Amsterdam and Manchester. Starting September 20, 2025, IndiGo will operate six flights per week between Mumbai and Amsterdam, with the service increasing to daily from October 13, 2025. Additionally, the connectivity between Mumbai and Manchester will be enhanced to four weekly flights, effective from September 22, 2025.
The enhancements to the flight schedules will be made possible by the second Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which is expected to arrive by mid-September.
IndiGo to activate reciprocal codeshare with KLM
IndiGo had announced at the IATA AGM in June 2025 that it would enter a partnership with Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic to offer seamless connectivity between North America, the UK, Europe, India and beyond. Now, it has begun to take the first steps of the partnership into action, with a codeshare agreement with KLM.
IndiGo has announced the extension of its codeshare agreement with KLM, offering enhanced connectivity to IndiGo customers across Europe and the UK on KLM’s network. The agreement will allow IndiGo to place its code on KLM-operated routes to 30 destinations across these regions, via Amsterdam.
Additionally, this will be the first way IndiGo will transfer passengers to London Heathrow from India. In 2022, IndiGo and KLM finalised a codeshare partnership providing KLM customers with access to 24 destinations on IndiGo’s network. Through this extended cooperation, IndiGo will be able to expand its reach to 30 destinations across Europe and the UK, including, but not limited to, Paris, Berlin, Geneva, Madrid, Brussels, London, Helsinki, Oslo, Prague and Stockholm.
Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said,
At IndiGo, we are committed to offering seamless global connectivity to our customers as part of our ambitious internationalisation strategy. We are delighted to deepen our partnership with KLM, providing our customers with greater convenience when traveling across Europe and the UK through Schiphol airport, one of the biggest European hubs. We are confident that our customers will value and benefit from the seamless connectivity offered through the vast combined networks of IndiGo and KLM. This collaboration aligns with our vision of giving wings to the nation and fostering more opportunities for boosting trade and tourism between India, Europe and rest of the world.
Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM, said,
We are pleased to take the next step in our collaboration with IndiGo by expanding our codeshare agreement. This allows travellers easier connections between India and Europe, including the UK, via our hub in Amsterdam, and gives IndiGo customers access to the extensive network KLM has to offer. This expansion further strengthens the ties between our regions and connects people and opportunities across continents offering them more choice and flexibility.
Customers can now book their travel itineraries across Europe and the UK on IndiGo’s website or mobile application starting August 01, 2025, for travel from August 11, 2025 (subject to regulatory approvals). Along with an integrated travel itinerary, customers will also enjoy a thorough baggage check-in, among other benefits.
Bottomline
IndiGo has begun implementing its expansion strategy, doubling flights to Amsterdam and establishing a codeshare partnership with KLM to enhance connectivity across Europe, leveraging its long-haul flights. The following steps will be adding a codeshare with Virgin Atlantic, which will allow for the transfer of passengers at Manchester onto flights to North America as well. Perhaps, Delta will follow a similar playbook, but for transfers at Schiphol again.
What do you think of IndiGo’s rollout of its expansion into Europe?
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