IndiGo has announced it will discontinue its leased wide-body operations from 25 October 2026, citing a challenging operating environment driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions. The airline will also end its damp lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways by the end of October.
As part of the transition, IndiGo’s Mumbai–Amsterdam route will continue using the Airbus A321XLR, while services to London Heathrow Airport will be temporarily suspended until the airline begins receiving its Airbus A350-900 fleet.
IndiGo said the damp lease programme, launched in early 2025 with six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, successfully helped the airline gain valuable long-haul operational experience. However, rising fuel costs, airspace restrictions, currency pressures, and higher operating expenses have made the current model commercially challenging.
Despite ending the leased wide-body operations, IndiGo emphasized that its long-term international expansion strategy remains unchanged, with future growth expected to be driven by its own Airbus A350 fleet.
