*

IndiGo suspends Copenhagen flights, trims UK services

*

Airspace closures, congestion increase flight times

*

Airline expects first Airbus A350 in early 2028

(Adds details throughout from the statement on route cuts,

background, Airbus delivery)

NEW DELHI, Feb 4 (Reuters) - India's IndiGo

said ‌on Wednesday it would suspend long-haul flights to

Copenhagen and trim some services between ​Delhi and Britain,

citing operational constraints from airspace closures linked to

geopolitical ‍tensions and airport congestion.

It is the second major ⁠Indian airline to ⁠scale back overseas

operations after Air India, which has suspended some U.S. routes

because Pakistan ‌has banned Indian carriers from ​its airspace.

IndiGo did not specify the geopolitical issues it faces, but

airspace closures in the Middle East have ⁠disrupted airline

schedules in recent months. ‍The restrictions ​and congestion at

airports in India and abroad have significantly increased flight

times for its leased Boeing Dreamliner jets, it ‍said.

The airline said it was taking immediate steps to restore

reliability in its widebody operations. India's largest carrier

faced criticism in December for poor pilot roster planning that

triggered large numbers of domestic flight cancellations.

IndiGo will suspend Copenhagen flights from February 17,

just months ​after ‍launching the route in October. It will also

cut Delhi-Manchester services to four flights a week from

February 7 and ​to three from February 19, while reducing

Delhi-London Heathrow operations to four flights a week from

five.

"IndiGo will continue monitoring these external developments

and flexibly scale its network up or down to align with evolving

conditions," it said.

The airline has been using Dreamliner aircraft leased from

Norse Atlantic Airways on ​the routes. IndiGo, one of Airbus'

largest customers, expects its first A350 widebodies in

early 2028, slipping from a previous 2027 target.