Setback for Indian tourists: IndiGo suspends flights to Krabi, Ho Chi Minh, 4 other places until Sept 30

Budget carrier IndiGo on Thursday said it will temporarily suspend services to six international destinations from July to September as it grapples with softer seasonal demand and a challenging operating cost environment.

The airline said flights to Langkawi, Krabi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Shanghai will be suspended from July 1, while services to Siem Reap will be halted from July 3.

Langkawi, Krabi and Ho Chi Minh City have emerged as a popular destination among Indian tourists and the suspension of flights would mean fewer alternatives for at least three months.

IndiGo said that bookings for these routes will reopen from October 1.

“However, should the environment become favourable, IndiGo stands prepared to reinstate these services earlier than scheduled, in appropriate lead time,” it added.

The move comes days after IndiGo announced the temporary suspension of its Manchester services from August 31, citing increased flying times due to international airspace restrictions and much higher operating costs.

"In view of a traditionally softer demand in the upcoming quarter and an incredibly challenging cost environment, IndiGo has decided to make temporary adjustments to a limited segment of its international network," the airline said in a statement.

IndiGo said it will continue to operate more than 1,800 international flights every week and retain the majority of its overseas services.

The airline said the temporary adjustments are aimed at aligning capacity with prevailing market conditions while maintaining reliability across its network.

"These measured changes are designed to align capacity with current market conditions and demand trends, while ensuring the airline maintains reliability and network integrity across its global destinations," it said.

IndiGo added that it will continue to monitor the situation amid elevated operating costs and persistent airspace restrictions affecting international operations.

On Tuesday, IndiGo said it would discontinue flights to and from Manchester from August 31 and return one of the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft leased from Norway's Norse Atlantic Airways.

The airline had leased the wide-body aircraft in early 2025 to accelerate its entry into long-haul international markets ahead of the induction of its own Airbus A350 fleet.

According to the carrier, a combination of geopolitical developments in West Asia, rising aviation turbine fuel prices, airspace constraints and foreign exchange volatility has pushed operating costs significantly beyond initial estimates.

IndiGo said it will proactively inform affected passengers and urged customers to check the latest flight information before planning their travel.