Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds today led a chorus of business, political and cultural leaders who welcomed news of a direct air route between Manchester and Mumbai.

Manchester Airport and IndiGo – India’s biggest airline – announced a three-times-a-week service to India’s financial capital, Mumbai, that will launch from 1 July.

The route comes on the back of the announcement of a new trade deal between India and the UK and has been backed to supercharge growth in the North through business and trade connections with the world’s fastest-growing economy.

Data from Visit Britain shows that 19% of all visitors to the UK from India come for business travel – and that they spend an average of £2,273 per visit. But only 8% of visitors to the UK from India come to the North West, compared to 43% going to London and 13% to the South East.

The new route is predicted to boost the region’s share of visitors from India and provide benefits to businesses, universities and cultural institutions across the North West.

Joe Manning, Managing Director at MIDAS, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency, said:

 “This direct Mumbai route comes at a great time for our city-region, following the recent UK-India trade deal. The new connectivity will drive growth in the North West and boost job creation by removing the barriers of a non-direct route, for Indian companies considering Greater Manchester for their European operations.

 “Combined with India's new consulate in Greater Manchester, we're perfectly positioned to capitalise on improved trade relations and attract high-level investments that will create skilled jobs across the North West in sectors like fintech, advanced manufacturing and technology.”

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 

“This new route will mean families and businesses in the North of England are more connected to India, which is great to see as we prepare to sign a landmark trade deal that will deliver billions for the UK economy and wages every year.

 “Our Plan for Change is already helping hundreds of businesses export to this fast-growing market, and this direct flight will create opportunities for even more firms to make use of our trade agreement once it comes into force, ushering in more money and jobs for the local economy.”

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:

“Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the World. Our route network of more than 200 destinations with 50 airlines is the best outside London and provides our passengers with unrivalled choice, flexibility and value.

“But our global connections have a deeper benefit to the region and the country as a whole and this new route to Mumbai with IndiGo is a great example of that.

“It will allow businesses to do deals and form partnerships with companies and customers in the world’s fastest growing economy. This will benefit companies right here in the region and helps level the playing field with the south.

“It will also attract more businesses to the area and bring more jobs. Ultimately, all these things add up to prosperity; more money in people’s pockets here in the North of England.

“I’m proud we are able to play our part in that and I’m looking forward to the route launching in just a matter of weeks.”

The announcement comes just weeks after the UK and India signed a historic trade agreement that is expected to boost bilateral trade between the two countries by as much as £25.5bn a year by 2040.

It also follows the opening of a new Indian Consulate in Manchester earlier this year, which means people accessing consular services from the area no longer need to travel to Birmingham.

All these developments follow years of coordinated engagement between Greater Manchester and India, through Manchester India Partnership (MIP), a public-private group of organisations set up in 2017.

Simon Arora, Chair of the Manchester India Partnership, said: 

“We know the vital role direct connectivity has in furthering cultural, economic and educational ties between destinations and that is why this direct route to Mumbai is so important.

“It will build on the existing strong connections we have developed between Greater Manchester and India over many years, and comes at an exciting time, with a new UK-India trade deal having been secured and a summer of celebrations ahead of us - not least the momentous England vs India cricket series.”

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority portfolio lead for economy, business and inclusive growth, said:

“The creation of this regular route between Mumbai and Manchester is a big moment. It will open up a wealth of opportunities for the city and wider region's businesses and residents.

“This new route can only enhance our strong and growing links with India to help attract investment, jobs and spending from business and tourism visitors as well as promoting cultural exchanges.”

Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Manchester’s Consul General of India, said:  

“The launch of IndiGo’s direct service between Manchester and Mumbai marks a significant milestone in deepening the strong and enduring ties between Manchester and India.

“This direct air link not only makes travel more convenient for business, tourism, and the vibrant Indian diaspora in the North of England, but also strengthens the economic, educational, and cultural bridges that already connects us.

“It is a timely step forward in enhancing connectivity, fostering closer people-to-people exchanges, and unlocking new opportunities for collaboration across sectors.”

Joanne Purves, Pro Vice Chancellor Partnerships & Global Engagement at the University of Salford:

“The University of Salford has over 26,000 students from every corner of the globe, including 1,400 from India. Our growing student numbers mean that an efficient international transport network is crucial to our connectivity.

“At Salford we truly value globalisation and prepare our students to thrive in an interconnected world, so it is great to see IndiGo will be offering a direct route from Mumbai to Manchester. This new service will support our Indian students, giving them confidence to travel with ease and helping them stay connected to their friends and family back home.”

Victoria Braddock, Managing Director at Marketing Manchester, said:

“The new route from Mumbai to Manchester with IndiGo is a much-needed connection that will unlock fantastic opportunities to strengthen the ties between our region and India. Marketing Manchester has been working hard to engage the market through travel trade, media, and partnerships, and it has been a priority in our internationalisation strategy to secure this route since 2018.

“Visitors will benefit from Manchester’s position as a Global Gateway to the North of England, with access to multiple destinations from one city-region. India is a key market for Greater Manchester’s visitor economy, already welcoming 21,000 visitors and contributing £7.8m to the local economy annually. This new route will offer a boost to visitor numbers, and an opportunity to grow tourism, trade, and investment between the two regions.”

The service will be IndiGo’s first to Europe and will be shortly followed by a connection to Amsterdam. It adds to Manchester Airport’s route network of more than 200 destinations and cements its status not only as the UK’s global gateway in the North but as one of Europe’s most well-connected airports.

It reflects the strong cultural ties between the North and India, with more than 500,000 people of Indian heritage living within two hours of Manchester Airport, and illustrates the attractiveness of the region as a destination.