Manchester is one of the first two long-haul points to be introduced by expanding Indian carrier IndiGo.
The airline has yet to confirm which Indian city the route will operate from but industry sources suggested Delhi was the most likely.
The three flights a week to Manchester three a week to Amsterdam are expected to start in July, subject to completion of all operational preparedness and regulatory approvals.
The airline’s entry into long-haul follows an agreement to lease four Boeing 787 Dreamliners from Norse Atlantic Airways, the first of which striated flying foe the Indian airline this month.
The Manchester service will be the only direct route from India to the north of the UK.
IndiGo chief executive Pieter Elbers said: “Today, we unlock a new and very exciting chapter in IndiGo’s growth journey, connecting India to the heart of Europe.
“We’re thrilled to announce our first-ever long-haul destinations – Manchester and Amsterdam.
“India has strong ties both with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for business and tourism; and there is a large Indian diaspora who live in these countries.
“These new flights will benefit both our existing and potential customers who fly on these routes.
“These new IndiGo long-haul routes are steps towards inching closer to realising our shared vision to build India into a global aviation hub.”