IndiGo, a well-known Indian low-cost carrier, made an exciting announcement on March 6, 2025 - they're expanding their reach into western Europe with Amsterdam (AMS) and Manchester (MAN) as their first two destinations in the region. The airline plans to kick off these new routes in July 2025, pending regulatory approval, with flights operating three times a week using Boeing 787-9 aircraft provided through damp lease agreements with Norse Atlantic Airways.

Damp lease agreements are a common practice in the airline industry where a lessor not only provides the aircraft but also the pilots and maintenance services for a specific period. It's a flexible solution often utilized by airlines to quickly address capacity needs. IndiGo launched its first damp-leased Dreamliner on March 1, 2025, for flights between Delhi (DEL) and Bangkok (BKK), with three more B787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways planned to join their fleet by the end of the year.

While the introduction of the Amsterdam route was expected, the addition of Manchester came as a surprise since it wasn't initially included in IndiGo's staff recruitment plans for Europe. Earlier in January 2025, the carrier had started the process of hiring station managers for London-Heathrow (LHR), Paris-Charles De Gaulle (CDG), and Amsterdam-Schiphol (AMS). With this move, IndiGo is set to become the sole airline offering a nonstop connection between India and northern England, expanding their European presence from just their Istanbul (IST) service in partnership with Turkish Airlines, utilizing two Boeing 777 aircraft wet-leased from the Turkish carrier.

Furthermore, IndiGo's expansion into Europe doesn't stop there. The airline has a substantial order for 30 Airbus A350-900 widebody and 69 A321XLR narrowbody aircraft. The A321XLR fleet will enable IndiGo to establish nonstop links between India and smaller European cities, paving the way for further growth in their European network.

Exciting times lie ahead for IndiGo as they chart new skies and connect continents, offering more travel options and convenience to their passengers.