Fresh from victory at the prestigious Lincoln Grand Prix, Wood is relishing the rest of the summer

Olympic silver medallist and UCI Track World Champion Ollie Wood cannot wait for his first taste of the City of London Nocturne when the world class racing returns to the Square Mile this summer.

The City of London criterium race is a new event developed by the founder of the original Smithfield Nocturne, bringing a fast-paced, urban feel to elite cycling, as food stalls and street music grace the event. And with it comes a certain aura that Wood can’t wait to sample.

He said: “I have never had the privilege of doing it before, but I’ve heard a lot about it. The last memory I have of it is my dad winning the support race years ago when I was there as a child.

“I’ve seen little videos, snippets, and cool pictures and stuff like that. I just want either me or my [RCC Racing] teammate, Matt Bostock, to win. I think that’s what we should be aiming for and I think that’s what we’re capable of, so it’d be nice if we can pull it off.”

Wood recently powered to victory across 166km at the Lincoln Grand Prix, Britain’s oldest annual bike race that features gradients of up to 20%. He said: “It was its 70th anniversary. I’m obviously biased myself, but I think it’s probably the one-day race in the UK that is probably the nicest to win.

“It was a tough day and had active racing from the start. It was very windy, and then for the last two hours of the race, there were just four of us. So, yes, it was a taxing day on the old body, that’s for sure.”

Wood was part of the squad that took home a silver medal in the team pursuit in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and he is targeting the Track World Championships in Shanghai later this year. But crit racing offers a lower-pressure environment, one in which Wood tends to thrive.

He said: “I just enjoy what I’m doing well in at the time, but crit racing is definitely more enjoyable to participate in. Even if it doesn’t go well, there’s always a good atmosphere.

“If the weather’s nice, not cold, wet, and dark like it can be in the UK summer, then it’s good. I usually have fun, regardless of the outcome. There’s not pressure like the Olympics.

“The UK national crit series will come thick and fast throughout the summer, and then hopefully I might get to participate in the Tour of Britain. That will feed into the main goal at the end of the year, which is the Track World Championships.”

To find out more and enter races go to www.racenocturne.com

Jose Mourinho is challenging a punishment by Turkish football authorities from his time at Fenerbahce in 2024 at the European Court of Human Rights, claiming he has been “violated”

Jose Mourinho has escalated a row with Turkish football authorities by filing a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights. Mourinho is poised to leave Benfica and return to Real Madrid, but is still engaged in a battle stemming from his previous job at Fenerbahce.

The 63-year-old is challenging a 600,000 Turkish lira (£9,717) fine and a one-match ban from the dressing room and bench area imposed by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following a 3-2 win over Trabzonspor in the Super Lig on November 3, 2024.

Mourinho was punished for alleged unsportsmanlike conduct towards supporters and his comments about the officials after the match. Trabzonspor got two second-half penalties, while Mourinho was also furious that one of their players didn’t get sent off for a poor challenge.

He said VAR Atilla Karaoglan had missed the incident, that the Turkish Super Lig “smells bad” and didn’t attract international fans.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football’s Facebook page

In his submission to the European Court of Human Rights, Mourinho argues that “the football boards in Turkey are not independent” and that his right to “freedom of expression has been violated”. The court has accepted his application and has requested observations from the Turkish government.

The TFF have argued that Mourinho’s comments about the lack of impartiality is “intended to damage the reputation of the TFF, to lower the value of Turkish football, to overshadow ‌or ⁠discredit the impartiality of referees and other competition officials”.

The ECHR have asked the TFF whether they provided Mourinho an independent and impartial tribunal, and if they balanced his right to free ⁠speech against their own interests.

Advertisement

It is not the only time Mourinho clashed with the authorities during his time in Turkey. He was also slapped with a two-match ban and a £12,200 fine following a row with Fenerbahce’s rivals Galatasaray.

He claimed that the Galatasaray bench had been “jumping like monkeys” during a 0-0 draw, prompting the club to accuse him of racism. “Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Turkey, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people,” Galatasaray said in a statement.

“Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric. We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho, and shall accordingly submit official complaints to UEFA and FIFA.”

Mourinho denied racism and Fenerbahce said his comments had been “taken completely out of context and deliberately distorted” by Galatasaray and that they should “in no way be associated with racism”.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

“A vote for the SNP is a vote for a referendum on independence. Based on the 2011 precedent, an SNP majority at this election is a mandate for the transfer of powers to the Scottish parliament to enable an independence referendum to be held.”

So said the SNP manifesto. Yet as the party failed to win a majority in May’s Scottish election, where does this leave the independence movement?

The SNP won a convincing victory, reflected both in its 58 seats and by being streets ahead of its rivals. But the lack of the sought-after majority, alongside the decline in the SNP’s vote share – down 9.5 points and 13.2 points in the constituency and party list votes respectively, has weakened SNP claims to having won a “mandate” for an independence referendum.

On the other hand, the Scottish Greens’ success in almost doubling its parliamentary representation means that there is a larger pro-independence majority in the Scottish parliament than ever before.

Mandates are always contested. Even if the SNP had secured an overall majority, especially with a similar share of the vote (possible, given that a small shift in just eight marginal constituencies could have delivered a majority), it is unlikely that the UK government would have responded as former prime minister David Cameron did in the wake of the SNP’s 2011 election victory.

Back then, the SNP’s single-party majority sent shock waves through the Westminster establishment. It also far surpassed support for independence, supported then by around a third of the electorate. The then-prime minister’s concession on a referendum mandate posed less of an existential threat to the union than would appear today. Although independence was not a priority issue in the 2026 election campaign, around half of the electorate have consistently said they would vote “yes” in a referendum.

Moreover, the UK Labour government can also claim that it has a mandate from the 2024 election to oppose an independence referendum, having clearly set out its opposition in the manifesto.

While the political mandate for an independence referendum is contested, the legal authority is not. There is no route to Scottish independence, or to a referendum on independence, that does not go through the Westminster parliament.

The UK Supreme Court’s 2022 judgement made clear that a law to hold an independence referendum would be beyond devolved competence because it would relate to both the status of the union between Scotland and England, and whether Scotland should cease to be subject to the sovereignty of the UK parliament. Both of these matters are reserved to Westminster under the Scotland Act (1998).

The Scotland Act allows for transfers of competence, via Section 30 orders or amendments to the schedule 5 reservations. Following the 2011 election, extensive intergovernmental negotiation led to the Edinburgh Agreement. This paved the way for a temporary transfer of competence via a Section 30 order to allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate to hold an independence referendum, and is the route the SNP hopes would lead to a new referendum.

The SNP’s election victory, by itself, is unlikely to be persuasive enough to generate a new agreement. An “unofficial” referendum or a unilateral declaration of independence would not be a meaningful path to independence and is not remotely considered an option by this SNP government.

There may, however, be more pressure on the UK government and the opposition parties in Scotland to clarify what a process might look like in the future and what would trigger it. The further we get from the 2014 independence referendum, the harder it may be politically to rest on the fact that Scots already took a decision on their constitutional future.

The UK constitution, unlike some of its European counterparts, does not prohibit independence for one or more of its constituent parts. Nor does it expressly provide a process to facilitate it, except – with some ambiguity – in the case of Northern Ireland.

The 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement places an obligation on the secretary of state to initiate a border poll on Irish unity “if at any time it appears likely that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland”. And where such a poll produced a majority, the secretary of state would lay proposals before parliament to give effect to that wish.

The Scottish first minister will have an ally in Sinn Fein’s Northern Ireland first minister, Michelle O’Neill, and in Wales’ new Plaid Cymru first minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, in pushing for clarity on the circumstances under which the constituent territories of the UK can decide to leave.

In the meantime, we can expect the new Scottish government to continue to make the case for independence, while pushing at the boundaries of devolution. This will include seeking new powers over energy, a new Scottish visa scheme, and opposing the post-Brexit constraints on Scottish self-government.

A version of this article appears as part of the Scottish Election Analysis 2026.

Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher was the Royal Navy’s only serving female commando, and previously competed in lacrosse, pole vault and triathlon

Advertisement

The Royal Navy’s only serving female commando was among those killed in a tragic helicopter crash yesterday.

Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, died alongside Petty Officer Owen Green, 24 and Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, in the incident at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, Devon, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Defence Secretary John Healey described all three as “dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our Armed Forces”.

The Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed into a field during a training exercise, leaving the aircraft completely destroyed, reports the Mirror.

A tribute from the Royal Navy reads: “All three dedicated their lives to serving the Royal Navy and their country.

“Our thoughts remain with their families, friends and colleagues and we continue to demand their privacy is respected at this time.

“We also ask anyone in the vicinity of the crash site to understand the poignancy of this, not to share footage and hand any footage to the relevant investigating authority.”

READ MORE: Watch terrifying moment arsonist sets car alight in ‘targeted’ Birmingham attack at family home

READ MORE: Stechford Leisure Centre ‘cordoned off’ after stabbing

The Royal Navy told how Lily Mae was “active” from a young age.

“Lily-Mae competed for her regional Netball team, and represented England in Junior Lacrosse and Pole Vault.

“At university she joined the Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron where she discovered a passion for flying,” it stated.

“Lily-Mae represented Great Britain at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in September 2021 whilst also completing Elementary Flying Training.

“During a break in flying training Lily-Mae attended the All Arms Commando Course, becoming Britain’s only serving female Royal Navy Commando.”

Lily-Mae was tragically killed in a helicopter incident on her final assessment of flying training and was due to be awarded her Pilot’s Wings in June 2026.

Her family said: “Lily-Mae was an extraordinary woman, daughter, sister, and partner.

“To say she was full of life is an understatement: she took every opportunity to push her limits, achieve more, and bring out the best in those around her.

“We are so proud of everything she accomplished. She has left an immeasurable hole in our lives, and in all the lives she has touched and inspired. The family kindly ask for time and space at this difficult time.”

Lt Cdr Gayson joined the RN as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in Sep 2008. He gained his wings in October 2012 and served with 845 NAS flying the Sea King Mk4, which included flying in Norway, Jordan, Afghanistan and Embarked Operations.

in 2020 he assumed the role of Senior Pilot of Sixty Squadron, where he delivered advanced helicopter training to RAF and Commando Helicopter Force Support Helicopter pilots and upgraded to an ‘A categorisation’ instructor.

“An utmost professional, his leadership of the Operational Conversion Flight was exemplary, and his loss is a huge blow to the Royal Navy, Force, and Squadron,” said the Royal Navy.

And a statement from his family read: “Chris was an extremely kind and gentle family man who loved his entire family dearly. He was also passionate about and dedicated to his job in the Royal Navy.”

Petty Officer Green joined the Royal Navy in January 2022, beginning initial training at HMS Raleigh.

Advertisement

“He demonstrated a consistently high level of professional competence and dedication throughout his career as an Aircrewman with 845 Naval Air Squadron,” said the Royal Navy.

“His deployment on Operation Clockwork 26 was particularly notable; he accumulated the highest-flying hours among his peers in demanding Arctic conditions, earning his Arctic environmental qualification and establishing himself as one of the squadron’s most experienced operators in extreme environments.”

His family said: “Losing Owen has left us all devastated. His life was far too short, and our hearts will forever be broken. He was a caring and devoted son, brother, grandson, and partner to Iona, whom he loved and cherished.

“His kindness, warmth, and character touched everyone who knew him. We are so proud of him achieving his life’s goal to serve in the Royal Navy as a Junglie Aircrewman and are grateful for the joy he brought into ours and Iona’s lives. He is so loved and will remain in our hearts forever.”

The head of the Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, said following the tragedy: “I am deeply saddened to share the news that three crewmembers onboard a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter have died after it crashed in the early hours of this morning near Sourton, Devon.

“I know this will come as a huge shock to all in our naval community, and my deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “These figures reflect demographic change playing out across the entire school system – primary school numbers have been falling since 2018/19, long before any change to VAT. The share of pupils in independent schools has stayed broadly consistent at 6.3%, and more private schools opened than closed in 2025.

Tonight sees France and the Ivory Coast face off in an international friendly match ahead of the 2026 World Cup

France and Ivory Coast meet in an international friendly match tonight as preparations ramp up for the 2026 World Cup.

The tournament in Mexico, Canada and the US kicks off next week, with excitement building ahead of the biggest edition of the competition ever held.

A total of 48 teams are involved, with France among the favourites to win the whole thing.

Their squad is littered with world-class talent, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba and Michael Olise set to lead Les Bleus.

Tonight’s opponents have been drawn in a group with Germany, Curacao and Ecuador and will hold ambitions of progressing to the knockout rounds.

Here is everything you need to know about the match tonight

What time is kick-off?

France v Ivory Coast kicks off at 8.10pm on Thursday, June 4, at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France.

Is the game on TV?

You are in luck.

Amazon Prime will be showing this match in the UK but you will have to pay £2.99 for the privilege to watch.

What about streaming?

The match will be available to stream via Prime Video TV and accessible on mobile devices, tablets or smart TVs.

Quotes corner

Didier Deschamps: “We’ve built up expectations because of our results.

“We lifted the trophy in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, so our supporters are naturally expecting to see France [still in the running] by mid-July.

“We’re one of the 10 or 12 nations that can realistically set their sights on becoming world champions.

“But do you know how many there will be at the end? Just one! That means at least 11 disappointed nations.

“They (the players) won’t all be able to play

“There’s a lot of promise, but we need the right chemistry, without letting individual egos get in the way.

“We need balance, and above all, compatibility and partnerships.”

Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and Petty Officer Owen Green were praised as “the best of our Armed Forces”

Advertisement

The three members of the Royal Navy who died in a helicopter crash in Devon on Wednesday have been named. The UK’s only serving female commando was among the three people killed in a helicopter crash in Devon yesterday.

Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, died alongside Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24, following the incident at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Defence Secretary John Healey described all three as “dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our Armed Forces”.

The Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed into a field during a training exercise, leaving the aircraft completely destroyed.

A tribute from the Royal Navy reads: “All three dedicated their lives to serving the Royal Navy and their country.

“Our thoughts remain with their families, friends and colleagues and we continue to demand their privacy is respected at this time.

“We also ask anyone in the vicinity of the crash site to understand the poignancy of this, not to share footage and hand any footage to the relevant investigating authority.”

READ MORE: Man recalls moment his wife revealed alleged sexual abuse by Jeffrey Donaldson

READ MORE: PSNI release photos of people they wish to speak to after Belfast riots

The Royal Navy told how Lily Mae was “active” from a young age.

“Lily-Mae competed for her regional Netball team, and represented England in Junior Lacrosse and Pole Vault. At university she joined the Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron where she discovered a passion for flying,” it stated.

“Lily-Mae represented Great Britain at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in September 2021 whilst also completing Elementary Flying Training.

“During a break in flying training Lily-Mae attended the All Arms Commando Course, becoming Britain’s only serving female Royal Navy Commando.”

Advertisement

Lily-Mae was tragically killed in a helicopter incident on her final assessment of flying training and was due to be awarded her Pilot’s Wings in June 2026.

Her family said: “Lily-Mae was an extraordinary woman, daughter, sister, and partner.

“To say she was full of life is an understatement: she took every opportunity to push her limits, achieve more, and bring out the best in those around her.

“We are so proud of everything she accomplished. She has left an immeasurable hole in our lives, and in all the lives she has touched and inspired. The family kindly ask for time and space at this difficult time.”

Lt Cdr Gayson joined the RN as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in Sep 2008. He gained his wings in October 2012 and served with 845 NAS flying the Sea King Mk4, which included flying in Norway, Jordan, Afghanistan and Embarked Operations.

in 2020 he assumed the role of Senior Pilot of Sixty Squadron, where he delivered advanced helicopter training to RAF and Commando Helicopter Force Support Helicopter pilots and upgraded to an ‘A categorisation’ instructor.

“An utmost professional, his leadership of the Operational Conversion Flight was exemplary, and his loss is a huge blow to the Royal Navy, Force, and Squadron,” said the Royal Navy.

And a statement from his family read: “Chris was an extremely kind and gentle family man who loved his entire family dearly. He was also passionate about and dedicated to his job in the Royal Navy.”

Petty Officer Green joined the Royal Navy in January 2022, beginning initial training at HMS Raleigh.

“He demonstrated a consistently high level of professional competence and dedication throughout his career as an Aircrewman with 845 Naval Air Squadron,” said the Royal Navy.

“His deployment on Operation Clockwork 26 was particularly notable; he accumulated the highest-flying hours among his peers in demanding Arctic conditions, earning his Arctic environmental qualification and establishing himself as one of the squadron’s most experienced operators in extreme environments.”

His family said: “Losing Owen has left us all devastated. His life was far too short, and our hearts will forever be broken. He was a caring and devoted son, brother, grandson, and partner to Iona, whom he loved and cherished.

“His kindness, warmth, and character touched everyone who knew him. We are so proud of him achieving his life’s goal to serve in the Royal Navy as a Junglie Aircrewman and are grateful for the joy he brought into ours and Iona’s lives. He is so loved and will remain in our hearts forever.”

The head of the Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, said following the tragedy: “I am deeply saddened to share the news that three crewmembers onboard a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter have died after it crashed in the early hours of this morning near Sourton, Devon.

“I know this will come as a huge shock to all in our naval community, and my deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”

Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has urged his old side to swoop for Arsenal target Julian Alvarez, believing he would be a ‘perfect’ addition at Stamford Bridge.

Atletico Madrid are determined to hold onto the Argentina international this summer, blasting Barcelona for their public pursuit of the striker last week.

The Madrid side have insisted they will not do business with the Catalan giants this summer but will also have to fend off interest from the Gunners.

After their Premier League title success, Arsenal want to keep strengthening this summer with Alvarez regarded as a dream signing to further bolster their front line with Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi another option being considered.

Arsenal have already been in contact with Alvarez’s agent while Chelsea were also credited with interest in the former Manchester City star earlier this year.

Joao Pedro finished his first campaign in west London with an impressive haul of 20 goals in all competitions but Chelsea were short elsewhere with Liam Delap managing just two all season.

After a wretched 10^th place finish, Xabi Alonso is now in place to lift the club from their slump with Johnson eager to see the Blues bring in another proven goal scorer.

‘Signing a striker should be priority number one for Chelsea this summer.’ Johnson told Football.London.

‘You can’t compete at the top of the Premier League without an out-and-out striker scoring 20 goals a season, and Chelsea don’t have someone of that description at the moment.

‘Those are the types of players you need to drag you through games when you’re poor, to score a goal out of nothing so you win games instead of drawing to opposition you should be beating if you want to compete.’

Despite Pedro’s impressive haul, Johnson believes a natural no9 is required with Alvarez perfectly fitting the bill.

‘I think Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid would be perfect. He seems like he’s on the move this summer and that’s exactly the type of player Chelsea need to go out and snap up,’ Johnson explained.

‘He’s a great player, his work ethic is absolutely through the roof, and he’s a perfectly well-rounded striker.

‘He has proven in the past he can score goals in the Premier League during his time at Man City, and if they could do a sensible deal, offering someone the other way, for example, then that would be a brilliant signing.

‘Chelsea fans would be buzzing with seeing him coming through the door.’

MORE: Liverpool begin talks to sign £112m Man City target as Andoni Iraola’s first transfer

MORE: Arsenal get Julian Alvarez boost as Atletico identify Man Utd target as replacement

MORE: Bacary Sagna claims surprise Arsenal star has been best player in the world this season

Ofsted found that nursery staff did not always notice and remove potential hazards

A nursery near Cambridgeshire will close after being told it “needs attention” by Ofsted. A recent inspection found that staff at Unity Stars, on Chalkstone Way in Haverhill, did not always notice and remove potential hazards.

The report, published on Tuesday, June 2, rated the nursery as “needs attention” in all areas assessed. The report states that there are “inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and staff’s interactions throughout the nursery”.

Inspectors praised that children are greeted at the door by “warm and nurturing staff”. It added: “Children play cooperatively and make friendships with their peers. They look forward to playing outdoors. Children delight in tipping water onto the concrete and splashing in puddles, giggling as they make patterns on the floor.”

A spokesperson for Unity Schools Partnership, which Unity Stars is a part of, said: “The Ofsted inspection highlighted many positive aspects of our nursery, particularly our strong safeguarding culture. Inspectors recognised that children feel safe, secure and well cared for.

“They also noted the warm, nurturing relationships between staff and children, with many children confidently seeking comfort and support from familiar adults. We are especially proud that our settling-in processes and close partnerships with parents were praised, helping children to feel happy and confident when they attend.”

The inspectors found that on occasion, “staff are not always noticing and removing potential hazards posed to children swiftly enough”. The report adds: “This is particularly apparent at times of transition. For example, when children prepare to move outdoors to play, there is a lack of embedded and well-structured routines.”

Leaders have risk assessments in place for each room and staff can explain these, the inspection found. “However, leaders are not monitoring staff’s practice closely enough to ensure staff are continuously alert to and managing potential risks effectively,” the report states.

In an example, Ofsted said that towels around the base of the water tray are not replaced swiftly enough, when they are sodden. This means at times, the floor becomes slippery and “increases the risk of children or staff slipping”.

The spokesperson for Unity Schools Partnership said that “as part of the inspection, Ofsted identified some areas where we can improve further” and have since welcomed this feedback and “implemented changes as a result”.

The spokesperson continued: “The report also highlighted that children enjoy their time at the nursery. They benefit from healthy meals, develop friendships and engage in a wide range of play experiences, particularly outdoors. It was also encouraging to see recognition of children’s growing independence and their development in areas such as physical skills and early mathematics.”

Since the inspection, the partnership, of which Unity Stars is a part of, said that they have “continued to experience difficulty in recruiting and retaining sufficient and adequately qualified staff at Chalkstone Way”. As a result, Unity Stars has taken the “difficult decision to wind-down this setting”, with its final day of operation being July 17, 2026.

The spokesperson added: “We are working with families to find suitable alternative provision, including at our flourishing Norton Road setting. In making this decision, we have been clear that the children’s safety and educational progress must be our greatest considerations.

“Without certainty that stable and high-quality staffing could be sustained, we decided that winding-down the setting at Chalkstone Way was the right thing to do.”

This is due to continuing international airspace constraints leading to significantly increased flight duration and a challenging cost environment, the airline said.

IndiGo will cut its flight operations to and from Manchester from August 31, 2026.

It said it will continue to operate all its remaining long-haul flights as planned.

IndiGo also plans to return one of the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, taken on damp lease in 2025, to Norse Atlantic Airways.

IndiGo had damp leased six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways in early 2025, and the objective was to make strategic inroads to establish the IndiGo brand in the European market, ahead of the commencement of services using its own Airbus A350 aircraft.

However, the airline has since experienced a significant impact of industry‑wide challenges, including geopolitical developments in the Middle East, rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs, severe airspace constraints, and foreign exchange volatility, resulting in operating costs being considerably higher than originally thought.

Abhijit Dasgupta, senior vice president – network planning & revenue management at IndiGo, said: “We inducted these wide-body aircraft on a short-term basis to fast-track our connectivity to high-potential long-haul destinations such as Manchester, and witnessed very encouraging demand response.

Do I need travel insurance?

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that longer flying times due to airspace constraints coupled with dramatically escalating costs compelled us to take the decision to temporarily discontinue our India – Manchester services.

“We would like to thank our customers, trade partners in India and in the UK, and Manchester Airport for their amazing support.

“The response and support for these services have reinforced our belief in the opportunity for IndiGo’s long-haul ambitions, and this discontinuation is temporary in nature.

“We look forward to serving this route again at the earliest viable opportunity and are exploring innovative solutions to continuing our collaboration with Norse Atlantic Airways.”

It is not yet confirmed when the Manchester flights will resume.

What to do if you have IndiGo flights booked

If you had trips booked with IndiGo to or from Manchester Airport, the airline has reassured passengers that anyone affected will be assisted with all possible options, including alternate travel arrangements or refunds where applicable.

Ryanair cuts flights to Manchester Airport

The news comes as Ryanair also announced it would cut flights to Manchester Airport.

Ryanair has cut flights to 19 airports across the UK and Europe recently due to rising costs, including Manchester and London Stansted.

The likes of Porto, Milan Bergamo, Berlin Brandenburg, Krakow, and Budapest are among the European airports affected by the cuts.

Are you going on holiday this year? Tell us where you’re travelling to in the comments below.