Bits: easyJet opens 11th UK base in Newcastle, IndiGo Manchester-Mumbai launch date

News in brief:

easyJet opening its 11th UK base in Newcastle

easyJet’s steady roll out of new UK bases continues. From next March, it will base three aircraft at Newcastle International airport creating 130 jobs for pilots, crew and engineers in the area.

The return to Newcastle after a six year gap makes it the 11th UK base in easyJet’s network.

easyJet already operates eight routes from Newcastle – currently served by aircraft based elsewhere – and will announce further routes for next summer soon.

Here is where you can currently fly:

• Alicante
• Amsterdam
• Belfast
• Bristol
• Geneva
• Malaga
• Palma de Mallorca
• Paris

According to the airline,

“The move signals a continued trajectory of growth in the UK for the airline, having already launched a base at London Southend in March and at Birmingham International Airport last year. In addition to this, seven additional aircraft have joined its UK fleet this summer.

“The UK is easyJet’s largest market with 56% of all easyJet customers flying to and from UK airports. The airline is set to operate its biggest ever UK flying programme this summer with over 33 million seats – half a million more than last year – and 44 new routes including three new network points, fuelled by strong demand for easyJet’s flights and package holidays.”

IndiGo’s Manchester to Mumbai flights confirmed

As we wrote in March, Indian low-cost airline IndiGo is getting into the long haul market. Initially, it will damp-lease Norse Atlantic aircraft before taking delivery of its own long-haul fleet from 2027.

The initial announcement stated that a July launch was on the cards “subject to regulatory approvals”. It looks like those cleared on schedule, with the airline launching its Manchester-Mumbai route on 1st July followed by Amsterdam-Mumbai on 2nd July.

Manchester flights operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays:

• 6E0031 departs Mumbai at 04:15 and arrives at Manchester at 09:15
• 6E0032 departs Manchester at 12:00 (midday) and arrives in Mumbai at 01:35 the following morning

Amsterdam flights also operate thrice weekly (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) with similar flight times.

Norse Atlantic’s premium cabins (there is no business class) will be branded as IndiGoStretch. As our comparison of premium economy cabins shows, this is – hands down – the most generous PE seat on the UK market in terms of legroom.

Service on board will be better than Norse Atlantic usually offers. Both economy and premium economy passengers will get complimentary hot meals, but only those in IndiGoStetch will get free alcoholic drinks.

Turning convention upside down, meals will be vegetarian by default, with the option to pre-book a non-vegetarian meal before departure.