IndiGo on Thursday announced the temporary suspension of flights to six international destinations, citing “traditionally lower demand in the coming quarter and an incredibly challenging cost environment”. The move, which will come into effect from July and remain in place until the end of September, comes days after the airline decided to stop its service between Mumbai and Manchester.
“IndiGo has decided to make temporary adjustments to a limited segment of its international network, including temporarily suspending operations to Langkawi, Krabi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Shanghai from July 1, and Siem Reap from July 3 until September 30, 2026,” the airline’s statement said.
“IndiGo will resume bookings for all affected services from October 1, 2026; however, if the environment becomes conducive, IndiGo is prepared to reinstate these services earlier than scheduled, and within the appropriate time limit,” the airline added.
The country’s largest airline on Tuesday announced the suspension of its non-stop flights between Mumbai and Manchester indefinitely from August 31 this year.
“Due to continuing international airspace restrictions resulting in a significant increase in flight duration and a challenging cost environment, IndiGo is required to temporarily cease flight operations to and from Manchester with effect from 31 August 2026. As a result of this decision, the airline plans to return one of its six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, acquired under a wet/wet lease, to Norse Atlantic Airways. IndiGo will continue to operate all of its remaining long-haul flights as planned,” the airline said.
IndiGo has leased six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways in early 2025 with a view to entering the European market, before commencing services using its Airbus A350 aircraft.
“However, the company has since experienced a significant impact of prevailing industry-wide challenges, including geopolitical developments” in West Asia, the company said, adding that “high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs, severe airspace restrictions, and foreign exchange rate fluctuations” have resulted in operating costs being significantly higher than originally anticipated.
“These measured changes are designed to align capacity with current market conditions and demand trends, while ensuring the airline maintains reliability and network integrity across its global destinations,” it said on Thursday.
She added, “The airline will continue to monitor the situation given the high operating costs and continued restrictions on airspace.”
