IndiGo to End Heathrow & Wide-Body Operations.
Due to a difficult operating environment brought on by persistent geopolitical tensions, IndiGo has declared that it will stop its wide-body operations on October 25, 2026. On October 31, 2026, the airline and Norse Atlantic Airways will finalise its joint lease.
As part of the changeover, services to and from London Heathrow will be temporarily halted until the airline starts accepting deliveries of its Airbus A350-900 aircraft, while IndiGo’s Mumbai–Amsterdam service will be run using the Airbus A321XLR starting on October 25.
To advance its long-haul goals, IndiGo and Norse Atlantic Airways signed a term lease deal in early 2025 for six Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Prior to the arrival of its own wide-body fleet, the arrangement allowed the airline to launch services to Europe and the UK while developing operational expertise in long-haul network planning, customer experience, crew operations, maintenance, airport handling, revenue management, and international partnerships.
The airline claims that since the program’s inception, the operating environment has undergone substantial change. A reassessment of the program has been prompted by the impact that airspace constraints, increased fuel prices, and currency pressures have had on route efficiency, schedule dependability, connectivity, and overall competitiveness.
Abhijit Dasgupta, SVP, Planning and Revenue Management, IndiGo stated, “The global aviation industry continues to navigate ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, necessitating a prudent deployment of resources in the short term while preserving long-term strategic objectives. Serving particular routes was never the only goal of this initiative; it also laid the groundwork for our long-haul operations going forward. Our belief in our long-term international plan has been reinforced by the priceless operational lessons learned and the positive consumer feedback along this trip. We are steadfastly devoted to growing our worldwide presence in important mid- and long-haul markets as we move into the next stage of our expansion. As we sustain internal momentum to get ready for our own widebody flights in accordance with our long-term international goals, we will continue to bolster our European network through services utilising the Airbus A321XLR. We would like to express our gratitude to Norse Atlantic Airways for their important relationship, as well as to our clients, staff, and partners whose support, dedication, and trust have been essential to our trip.”
In order to guarantee a seamless transition, IndiGo stated that it will collaborate closely with impacted clients to offer appropriate alternatives, such as rebooking choices and reimbursements when appropriate.
