Manchester Strengthens India Connections with New Delhi Flight Route
Manchester Airport has announced a new direct flight route to Delhi, India, operated by IndiGo, bolstering teh region’s economic ties with one of the world’s largest economies. This addition complements the existing direct service to Mumbai, creating daily connectivity between Manchester and India.
The new route is expected to significantly boost the regional economy, building upon established trade, investment, academic, and cultural links. The decision by IndiGo to choose Manchester acknowledges years of dedicated effort in fostering strong relationships between the two locations. With a recently established UK-India trade deal in place, officials anticipate further opportunities for collaboration benefitting both the UK and India.
“This new route to Delhi will supercharge Manchester’s connections with India,” stated Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council. “Our existing route to Mumbai is already hugely beneficial… and the addition of Delhi will take that to the next level.”
vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester, highlighted the route’s importance for businesses, students, tourism, and cultural exchange, calling it “another milestone in the deepening partnership between India and the North of England.”
Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, emphasized the potential for strengthened economic ties, citing foreign direct investment like Sai Life Sciences at Alderley Park and the meaningful number of Indian students choosing to study in the North of England as key factors.
The new service will operate from Manchester Airport’s recently completed £1.3 billion Terminal 2, which is the centerpiece of the airport’s decade-long change program. Terminal 2 has already received international recognition, winning the prestigious Prix Versailles award for architecture and design.
IndiGo,India’s largest airline,served over 118 million passengers last year across a network of more than 90 destinations in India and 40 international destinations,operating a fleet of over 400 aircraft.
Delhi, India’s capital, is a key governmental and cultural hub, forming part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ tourist circuit alongside Agra (home of the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur. Mumbai, India’s financial capital and a major global city, is a center for commerce, fashion, and the Hindi film industry.
