Reviewed by our editorial team Updated
Published: 12 October 2025
By Rupert the Reindeer, AppSavvyTraveller Editorial Team
Why This IndiGo Expansion Matters
IndiGo has been expanding its route network between the UK, India, and Southeast Asia. Following a wave of network announcements last autumn, India’s largest airline launched new international routes from Delhi to Denpasar (Bali) and Krabi, alongside increased frequencies to Bangkok. However, IndiGo’s Delhi–Manchester route, which launched in November 2025, is now being discontinued: the last flight is scheduled for 31 August 2026, and bookings for the route closed on 3 June 2026.
For UK-based travellers, the IndiGo app now serves as the easiest way to explore India and beyond, allowing direct booking, mobile check-in, and real-time flight tracking across IndiGo’s network of more than 130 destinations worldwide. With the carrier’s expanding long-haul network and a rapidly improving digital platform, IndiGo is positioning itself as a smart alternative to legacy airlines for affordable, connected travel between continents.
Delhi’s Rise as IndiGo’s International Hub
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is fast becoming IndiGo’s global gateway. The airline’s latest expansion cements its capital-city base as a dual domestic-and-international super-hub, offering seamless one-stop access to 74 domestic and 21 international destinations from Delhi itself. According to IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers, strengthening Delhi’s position is key to the company’s ambition of developing “globally competitive and locally connected aviation hubs in India” as part of its 2030 growth strategy.
From the start of the winter schedule in late October 2025, the timetable from Delhi has carried over 1,700 weekly departures, linking Tier-1, Tier-2 and emerging cities across India to long-haul routes in Europe and Asia. This concentrated connectivity gives travellers from the UK and the wider region unprecedented access to destinations once reachable only via multiple transfers.
Crucially, the IndiGo app now integrates these domestic and international services into a single booking journey that combines dynamic pricing, rupee or sterling payment options, and live seat selection. For tech-savvy travellers using smartphones as their travel hub, IndiGo’s digital strategy transforms Delhi from a transit point into a fully connected travel ecosystem.
Inside the News: New Routes and Schedules
IndiGo’s announcement outlined an ambitious expansion from its Delhi hub, introducing three new international services and multiple domestic boosts to strengthen connectivity across India and Asia. Starting 24 October 2025, the airline launched daily flights between Delhi and Denpasar (Bali), followed by four-times-weekly flights to Krabi (Thailand) on 26 October 2025. The carrier also doubled its Delhi–Bangkok service to two daily flights on the same date, enhancing access to one of Southeast Asia’s most popular gateways.
The Delhi–Manchester route was the headline addition for UK travellers when it launched on 15 November 2025, marking the start of IndiGo’s long-haul operations from Delhi using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. That service has since been wound down.
These schedule upgrades were originally announced alongside a separate plan to raise frequencies from Mumbai to Manchester and London Heathrow. Those Manchester ambitions have since reversed: rather than growing capacity to Manchester, IndiGo is discontinuing the Delhi route entirely. For travellers booking through the IndiGo app, all other live routes appear in the same interface, with seamless purchase and real-time seat management still available.
Manchester Route Discontinued: What UK Travellers Need to Know
IndiGo’s Delhi–Manchester Dreamliner service briefly added competition on the busy India corridor, long dominated by full-service airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. That service is now ending: IndiGo has confirmed 31 August 2026 as the date of its last Delhi–Manchester flight, with bookings for the route having closed on 3 June 2026.
Demand for travel between the UK and India has rebounded strongly since the pandemic, driven by business links, a growing student population, and the vibrant Indian diaspora across northern England. IndiGo’s model of affordable fares, on-time performance, and easy digital booking helped it compete in this market. The booking closure stopped new sales rather than travel, so passengers already holding tickets continued to use the IndiGo app for online check-in and mobile boarding passes on every remaining service, right through to the final departure.
By pairing low-cost pricing with Dreamliner comfort and a full digital experience, IndiGo is positioning itself as the smart, app-led option for UK–India travel. Passengers can manage itineraries, add baggage, and receive push notifications for schedule updates, features that rival or exceed many legacy competitors.
How the IndiGo App Powers This Growth
Behind IndiGo’s rapid network expansion sits an increasingly capable digital platform. The IndiGo app has evolved from a basic booking tool into a full-service travel companion, connecting every stage of the journey, from fare alerts to boarding-gate updates. Through the app, travellers can search and pay in either INR or GBP, manage multi-city itineraries, and sync bookings directly to mobile wallets for easier airport scanning.
The app’s live flight-status feed and real-time push notifications remove much of the uncertainty of long-haul travel. Passengers can track aircraft position, boarding times, and baggage carousel details without opening a browser. Premium features, such as seat-upgrade bidding and meal pre-orders, are handled entirely within the interface, making check-in across Delhi and IndiGo’s other hubs far smoother.
IndiGo’s 6E Rewards programme also integrates directly into the app, allowing travellers to earn and redeem points across flights, partner hotels, and ground-transport providers. Combined with integrations from global tools like Apple Wallet and Google Pay, the IndiGo app delivers a level of digital polish that supports the airline’s international ambitions.
For those comparing options, the platform’s ability to manage both domestic and international bookings in one account distinguishes it from competitors. Travellers on IndiGo’s live routes, such as Delhi → Goa, can book multi-city journeys on a single app-based ticket, track each segment, and rebook instantly if plans change.
App availability and prices vary by country. Some of these may not appear in your local App Store or Google Play.
Onward Routes & Connections
Although the Delhi–Manchester service is being discontinued, Delhi itself remains one of Asia’s most extensive onward networks, with 95 destinations, 74 domestic and 21 international, served directly by IndiGo from the capital. Using the IndiGo app, connections can be managed in-app without needing a separate booking, allowing travellers to continue to India’s beaches, cultural centres, and regional capitals with minimal layover time.
| Destination | Approx Flight Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Goa (Manohar Int’l and Dabolim) | ≈ 2 h 30 m | Daily |
| Mumbai | ≈ 2 h 15 m | Multiple daily |
| Bengaluru | ≈ 2 h 40 m | Daily |
| Chennai | ≈ 2 h 50 m | Daily |
| Kathmandu (Nepal) | ≈ 1 h 50 m | 5× weekly |
| Bangkok (Thailand) | ≈ 4 h 00 m | 2× daily |
Every sector is available through the same digital interface, with automatic transfer of passenger details and flight alerts. Travellers can even check onward visa or baggage requirements through in-app notifications before boarding their next leg.
Traveller Tips & Digital Planning
To make the most of IndiGo’s expanded network, travellers should take a few minutes to explore the tools built into the IndiGo app before flying. The platform now supports mobile check-in up to 48 hours in advance, letting passengers choose seats, order meals, and download boarding passes that work with Apple Wallet or Google Pay. Push alerts within the app provide reminders for gate openings and last-minute changes, a useful safeguard when transiting through busy Delhi.
Passengers on the remaining Delhi–Manchester services are encouraged to arrive at Manchester Airport at least three hours before departure; the Dreamliner service boards at Terminal 2, where dedicated bag-drop counters speed up the process for app-checked passengers, and baggage tracking is available within the app once luggage has been scanned onto the aircraft.
Those continuing onward from Delhi can use the app to monitor domestic connections, manage layover times, and receive alerts about security-gate queues. Because the IndiGo app works offline for key details like boarding passes and seat numbers, it’s worth downloading updates while connected to airport Wi-Fi before leaving the UK.
Rupert’s Handy Travel Tips
Flying long-haul to Delhi soon? Here are a few useful tips to make your IndiGo journey smoother:
- Check in early: Use the IndiGo app up to 48 hours before departure to secure your preferred seat and boarding pass.
- Use free Wi-Fi: Log on at Manchester or Delhi airports before opening the app to avoid roaming charges when updating flight status.
- Quick connections: At Delhi, follow the purple “International Connections” lane for the fastest route to domestic gates.
- Track your Dreamliner: The app’s live tracker will alert you when boarding begins, which is especially handy if gates change last-minute.
- Collect rewards: Remember to add your 6E Rewards number in-app to earn points on every segment.
Want to meet the reindeer behind our travel tips? Find out more in our page Who is Rupert?.
Further Reading & Related App Guides
Airline networks across Europe and beyond are changing rapidly, with new routes, airport expansions and fleet upgrades continuing to reshape travel options for 2026 and beyond. IndiGo’s now-discontinued Delhi–Manchester service is a reminder of how quickly airline networks can shift, even as the airport’s Terminal 2 expansion continues to support other long-haul growth.
Travellers who flew the Delhi–Manchester Dreamliner service before its discontinuation may still find our guide to Manchester Airport trains useful for planning the onward journey into the city centre.
