An airline has decided to discontinue two significant routes from London Heathrow this fall, despite their launch less than a year ago.
IndiGo, a budget airline, has announced the cancellation of flights between London Heathrow and India, with services expected to end on October 25 when borrowed planes are returned. The airline attributed this decision to a challenging operational environment due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, escalating fuel expenses, and airspace restrictions.
IndiGo will return aircraft leased from Norse Atlantic Airways in October, marking the conclusion of flights to Delhi and Mumbai from London Heathrow. The airline, India’s largest, expressed its commitment to assisting affected passengers by providing suitable alternatives, refunds, or alternative travel arrangements.
Awaiting the delivery of new Airbus A350-900 aircraft, IndiGo plans to resume operations between India and Heathrow in the future. Additionally, the airline is set to discontinue other routes from Manchester Airport later this month.
The Mumbai and Delhi routes, initiated in July 2025, will cease operations on August 31. IndiGo, known for offering cost-effective travel between the UK and India, previously provided one-way flights between Manchester and Mumbai for as low as £290.
While IndiGo undergoes these changes, several other airlines will continue to operate flights between UK airports and the two Indian cities. Recently appointed CEO Willie Walsh, a former Irish pilot and airline expert, took the helm following a scheduling crisis in 2025. The airline faced significant flight disruptions last December due to unpreparedness for new government regulations on pilot rosters, leading to the resignation of the former chief executive, Pieter Elbers, in March.