Manchester’s future is global, and this link to Mumbai is worth celebrating. Like many others, not just here in Stockport, but across the UK, I welcome the announcement that direct flights to Mumbai are now operating up to four days a week. Manchester is currently IndiGo’s, India’s largest Airline, first UK service. This is a strategic investment in our region’s future. The Manchester–Mumbai bridge will bring nearly £33 million in additional exports, create around 250 new jobs, and inject over £12 million into the Manchester economy annually. These are not abstract figures: they represent real opportunities for growth, innovation, and prosperity, especially for the hard-working small businesses in my constituency of Stockport.

Strong regional links like this are crucial to our local exporters. This aerial bridge provides Mancunian businesses with direct access to India’s wealthiest city, a metropolis that generates 6.16% of India’s total GDP, hosts 100% of India’s stock market assets, and handles 40% of its foreign trade. Mumbai is not just a city, it is a global economic powerhouse, and this route places Greater Manchester firmly on the map of international commerce.

There is much work being done in parliament to promote the importance of British Trade and Investment in our regions. From local MPs like myself who will always be a strong champion for their local constituencies and region, like I am for Stockport, to advocates like the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Trade and Investment who will continue to advocate for greater investment for our regions across the political divide.

This route, alongside the historic UK–India Trade Deal, shows that the future of British exports lies not only in global ambition, but in regional empowerment. It demonstrates that cities like Manchester can stand shoulder to shoulder with Mumbai, not just in commerce, but in shaping the future of bilateral trade, investment, and inclusive growth. It’s a signal that regional exporters are no longer on the sidelines, they have a seat at the table, and their voices matter.

For many of us, this route means even more than economics. With over half a million people of Indian heritage within Manchester Airport’s catchment area, this flight is a lifeline of connection. It’s a direct and logistically convenient route uniting families and friends, bridging distance and generations. It echoes the journeys of our grandparents, who once travelled weeks to reach Britain, often by ship and train, carrying with them stories and the hope of a better life. Today, we can retrace those journeys in just hours, with ease and comfort. 

This flight gives us the freedom to visit our roots more often and more spontaneously, whether that’s to relax on Juhu Beach as work commitments quieten down for the Christmas break, or to celebrate with family during Diwali, one of the most cherished festivals in the Indian calendar. It allows us to attend weddings, support elderly relatives, and maintain the cultural ties that make our communities so rich and resilient.