IndiGo Abandons Boeing 787-9 Operations Amid Rising Costs
IndiGo has announced it will discontinue its Boeing 787-9 widebody operations from October 25, 2026. The airline had entered into a damp lease partnership with Norse Atlantic Airways in early 2025 to launch flights to London Heathrow, Manchester, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen.
The decision was attributed to a significantly more challenging operating environment than when the project was first conceived. IndiGo cited rising costs due to geopolitical tensions, airspace constraints, elevated fuel prices, and currency pressures that affected route efficiency, schedule integrity, connectivity, and overall competitiveness.
The airline's Senior Vice President, Planning and Revenue Management, Abhijit Dasgupta, emphasized that the decision should not be viewed as a retreat from long-haul aviation. He stated that the project was never solely about serving specific routes but laying the foundation for IndiGo's long-haul operations in future.
IndiGo will suspend all Heathrow operations from October 25, 2026, until its Airbus A350-900 aircraft begin entering service. Mumbai-Amsterdam will continue to operate using the Airbus A321XLR instead of the Boeing 787-9.