The North is set for a major economic boost thanks to a new direct air route to India’s capital.
The service – between Manchester Airport and Delhi – was announced at the start of a trade mission to India led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
It will be operated by India’s biggest airline – IndiGo – and has been tipped to accelerate the benefits of the new UK-India trade deal by helping businesses across the North export to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
The news comes just months after IndiGo picked Manchester for its first ever long-haul route into Europe, launching flights to Mumbai.
It means that, from November, there will be nine direct flights a week between the North and India, with Manchester Airport being the only outside London to have services to both Mumbai and Delhi.
They will all operate from Manchester’s state-of-the-art £1.3bn Terminal 2, which has been delivered through its historic 10-year Transformation Programme, unlocking the capacity of its existing two full-length runways.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“This new direct route between Manchester and Delhi is a powerful example of our plan for change in action—unlocking new opportunities for businesses, creating hundreds of jobs, and driving growth. I’m proud to see Manchester Airport leading the way in delivering the benefits of our new UK-India trade deal to communities across the North.”
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe has joined the Prime Minister and a delegation of senior business figures from across UK on the four-day mission to India, starting today (Wednesday 8 October).
He said:
“We are proud to connect the North to the world and today’s announcement means people and businesses across the region will now have direct access to both India’s financial centre and its capital.
“That will drive tens of millions of pounds in economic value every year, supporting the Government’s growth agenda and boosting the benefits of the new UK-India trade deal.
“It is pleasing to see MAG’s £1.3bn investment in Manchester Airport unlocking the potential of our two runways, driving growth and prosperity across the North through routes like these with IndiGo.
“I am honoured to be joining the Prime Minister on this trade mission and look forward to working with Government on plans to maximise the contribution Manchester Airport makes to its economic mission in the years to come.”
