IndiGo launched non-stop service to Shanghai in March 2026 after restoring Kolkata–Guangzhou flights and starting Delhi–China service. Its UK expansion brought Mumbai–Manchester and Mumbai–London Heathrow flights, but the airline later announced that Manchester service would end on 31 August 2026 and Heathrow service would be temporarily discontinued as its wide-body operations wind down. These are dated route announcements, not confirmation of what is available to book today; check IndiGo’s live channels for your travel dates.
IndiGo’s non-stop China routes
IndiGo’s China expansion has unfolded in stages. In an update dated 30 March 2026, the airline said daily non-stop Kolkata–Shanghai service had commenced the previous day, 29 March. It described Shanghai as building on restored Kolkata–Guangzhou service and the subsequent start of service from Delhi to China. The notice establishes this sequence, but does not provide a complete current schedule for every China route.
Kolkata–Shanghai
The daily non-stop Kolkata–Shanghai service began on 29 March 2026, according to IndiGo’s 30 March announcement. “Daily” describes the announced frequency; check IndiGo’s booking channels for availability on a particular date and for any later schedule changes.
Kolkata–Guangzhou and Delhi–China
IndiGo characterized the Shanghai launch as following the reinstatement of Kolkata–Guangzhou service and the subsequent start of service from Delhi. The announcement does not give launch dates or a current operating-day pattern for those earlier services, so it should not be read as a live timetable for them.
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IndiGo’s UK expansion and route changes
IndiGo’s UK expansion included Mumbai–Manchester and Mumbai–London Heathrow. The Heathrow route launched in October 2025, but later notices changed the outlook for both routes. In particular, a launch announcement is not evidence that a route still operates.
Mumbai–Manchester
IndiGo announced on 2 June 2026 that Manchester flights would be temporarily discontinued from 31 August 2026. It cited international airspace constraints, longer flight durations and a challenging cost environment. The notice is a dated statement of the planned change; check the airline’s current inventory for any subsequent updates.
Mumbai–London Heathrow
On 4 August 2025, IndiGo announced daily direct Mumbai–Heathrow flights beginning 26 October 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. The plan used a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner through a damp-lease arrangement with Norse Atlantic Airways. In a 6 October update, IndiGo described London as its second UK destination after Manchester and said the daily service would offer Economy and IndiGoStretch. IndiGo’s October release index records the inaugural non-stop flight on 27 October 2025.
In its 31 July 2026 update, IndiGo said wide-body operations would end effective 25 October 2026 and its Norse Atlantic damp lease would conclude effective 31 October 2026. The airline said Heathrow service would be temporarily discontinued until its A350-900 aircraft are delivered. It also said Mumbai–Amsterdam would transition to the A321XLR from 25 October 2026; that is a separate route change, not a Heathrow replacement itinerary.
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What travelers should verify before booking
The official notices establish route launches and announced operating changes, but not live fares, seat inventory, or the latest schedule. For a specific journey, verify each segment and travel date directly with IndiGo or an authorized travel partner.
- Check the origin and destination airports, not just the city names.
- Confirm whether the itinerary is non-stop or includes a connection.
- Check the operating date and frequency shown for your travel dates.
- For Heathrow travel, confirm current service status rather than relying on the 2025 launch announcement.
- Review the aircraft and cabin details shown for the particular flight; equipment and product information in a past notice does not guarantee the same configuration for a future booking.
IndiGo’s 6 October 2025 Heathrow announcement identified students, visiting friends and relatives, business travelers and leisure travelers as audiences for the India–UK corridor. That is the airline’s stated rationale, not segment-level traffic data.
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