IndiGo Announces Major Operational Adjustments for European Routes
In a significant move affecting its international network, IndiGo has decided to scale back its European and United Kingdom operations mounted on wide-body aircraft. The airline will suspend its Copenhagen flights indefinitely starting February 17, 2026, while simultaneously reducing frequencies to key destinations like Manchester and London Heathrow.
Operational Constraints Force Schedule Changes
The airline has cited multiple external factors that have compelled these adjustments. According to IndiGo, its twin-aisle operations have been grappling with "external operational constraints" including continuously changing airspace restrictions due to geopolitical circumstances and significant congestion at airports both in India and abroad.
These challenges have "significantly increased flight and block times" creating strain over the airline's Boeing 787-9 schedule. IndiGo currently operates six wide-body aircraft through a wet lease arrangement with Norse Atlantic Airways, where aircraft are hired with operating crew.
Specific Route Adjustments and Timelines
The changes being implemented are substantial and will affect multiple routes:
- Copenhagen Suspension: Effective February 17, 2026, IndiGo will suspend all operations to and from Copenhagen until further notice.
- Manchester Reductions: Starting February 7, 2026, Delhi-Manchester services will be reduced from five to four flights per week, with a further reduction to three weekly flights from February 19, 2026. This brings total connectivity to and from Manchester down from nine weekly services to just seven.
- London Heathrow Adjustment: From February 9, 2026, Delhi-London Heathrow services will be adjusted from five times weekly to four weekly flights for the current winter schedule.
Proactive Measures for Customer Service
IndiGo emphasized that these adjustments are being made to "avoid inconvenience to customers due to misconnections and cascading delays." The airline stated it is proactively reaching out to affected customers to offer alternative flights or issue timely refunds and compensation as per applicable regulations.
"IndiGo regrets that the prevailing circumstances have affected the airline's operational reliability on its B787-9 routes," the company said in an official statement. "By making these adjustments to its schedule, the airline strives to improve reliability of its long-haul services and reduce disruption to connecting itineraries booked by its customers."
Strategic Context and Future Outlook
These operational changes come as part of IndiGo's broader international expansion strategy. The airline launched its wide-body project in March 2025 through a damp lease arrangement of six Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways. This initiative was established as an intermediate solution for global expansion, serving as a precursor to IndiGo's planned induction of its own Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft in early 2028.
The Manchester scale adjustment was originally planned for implementation in the summer schedule of 2026 but has been executed earlier to ensure reliability for the rest of IndiGo's long-haul operations. The airline has committed to "continue monitoring these external developments and flexibly scale its network up or down" to align with evolving conditions in the aviation sector.
