IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, has officially unveiled its roadmap for a transformative 2026, marking its definitive entry into the long-haul arena. In a series of landmark announcements today, December 24, 2025, the airline confirmed it will launch direct flights between Delhi (DEL) and London Heathrow (LHR) starting February 2, 2026, utilising wide-body aircraft.

Simultaneously, the airline is preparing to receive India’s first Airbus A321XLR (Extra Long Range). The revolutionary narrow-body is slated to enter commercial service as early as January 23, 2026, on a new route connecting both Delhi and Mumbai to Athens (ATH), effectively redefining the reach of low-cost aviation in the subcontinent.

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Wide-body Expansion from Delhi

IndiGo’s expansion into the UK capital follows its successful launch of the Mumbai–London route. To bridge the gap until its own A350-900s arrive in 2027, the airline is deepening its partnership with Norse Atlantic Airways. The new Delhi–London service will be operated using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner under a wet-lease agreement, featuring the premium IndiGo Stretch cabin alongside standard Economy.

“This new service is expected to support the growing demand for commerce, tourism, and VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) travel,” said Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo. “We are committed to making international travel seamless and more accessible from the Capital.”

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Flight Schedule

The new service will operate five times weekly, complementing IndiGo's existing daily Mumbai–London flights to provide a total of 12 weekly services to the UK.

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The A321XLR Revolution

While the wide-bodies handle the "Blue Ribbon" London route, the incoming Airbus A321XLR will unlock destinations previously unreachable by narrow-body aircraft. IndiGo has confirmed that the XLR will feature 12 business class seats and 183 economy seats, offering significantly more legroom and hot meal services.

Athens will serve as the launchpad for the XLR, with the airline leveraging its codeshare with Aegean Airlines to provide onward connectivity to the rest of Europe.

Projected A321XLR Launch Schedule (Jan 2026)

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Phasing Out Turkish Leases

The arrival of the A321XLR and the Norse 787s comes at a critical time. The DGCA has issued a final "sunset clause" for IndiGo's Turkish wet-leases. The airline must return its two Turkish Airlines Boeing 777s by the end of February 2026 and its five Corendon Boeing 737s by March 31, 2026. 

This fleet transition confirms IndiGo’s strategy to shift from "stop-gap" wet-leases to its own long-range narrow body fleet and more specialised wet-lease wide body partnerships. By March 2026, IndiGo's international network will encompass 66 destinations, firmly establishing the carrier as a global long-haul competitor.