IndiGo announces Delhi-Heathrow flights from February 2026 as scrutiny continues over operational disruptions

IndiGo has announced the launch of direct flights between Delhi and London Heathrow, expanding its long-haul network even as the airline remains under regulatory scrutiny following widespread operational disruptions earlier this month.

The new service will commence on February 2, 2026, with five flights a week operated using Boeing 787 aircraft taken on wet or damp lease from Norse Atlantic Airways. The aircraft will feature a dual-class configuration, offering IndiGoStretch and Economy Class. With this addition, IndiGo will operate a total of 12 weekly flights to London, having already introduced daily direct services between Mumbai and Heathrow.

The Delhi-London is part of the airline's international expansion from the national capital. In recent months, IndiGo has launched direct services from Delhi to Denpasar (Bali), Krabi, Hanoi, Guangzhou and Manchester, and has also announced flights to Athens starting January 2026. Over the past year, the carrier has added 10 new international destinations and more than 30 international routes from various Indian cities.

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Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer of IndiGo, said the new route would strengthen ties between India and the UK. “We are pleased to introduce direct flights between Delhi and London, offering more travel options between India and the United Kingdom. This follows the recent launch of our direct flights from Mumbai to London, and service from Delhi and Mumbai to Manchester,” he said.

“This new service is expected to support the growing demand for travel between the two cities for commerce, tourism, and visiting family and friends. IndiGo is committed to making international travel seamless and more accessible, while strengthening connectivity between India and key global destinations,” Elbers added.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of continued operational challenges for the airline. On Tuesday, IndiGo cancelled around 50 domestic flights across multiple airports, including Mumbai, Delhi, Varanasi, Pune, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Indore and Patna, according to information published on its website. The airline did not disclose the reasons for the cancellations.

Under its winter schedule, IndiGo had initially been permitted to operate 15,014 domestic flights per week, or 2,144 flights per day. However, following large-scale disruptions in earlier December, when thousands of flights were cancelled and passengers across the country were affected, the government reduced the airline's winter allocation by 10%, or 214 flights per day.

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As a result, IndiGo is now capped at 1,930 domestic flights per day, excluding international and cargo services. At the peak of the disruption, the airline cancelled as many as 1,600 flights in a single day.

In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation constituted a four-member probe panel to examine the airline’s manpower planning, fluctuating rostering systems and preparedness to implement revised duty period and rest norms for pilots. The panel has already questioned IndiGo’s senior leadership, including CEO Pieter Elbers and Chief Operating Officer Isidre Porqueras, and is expected to submit its report later this week.

(With inputs from agencies)