Direct from Manchester in winter
TUI runs direct winter flights to Goa from Manchester and from London Gatwick, four times a week in total this season, twice from each. The flights land at Manohar International Airport at Mopa, code GOX, in the north of Goa. The season began in early November 2026 and runs through the winter.
These are charter flights, sold mostly with TUI package holidays. Dates are fixed and flight-only seats are limited, but when the dates suit, it is the only way to reach Goa from the North of England without changing planes.
One stop from Manchester, all year
Qatar Airways flies from Manchester to Doha and on to Mopa, which keeps the whole trip on one airline and one ticket. This works all year and gives you more choice of days than the TUI flights.
Another option is a Gulf airline from Manchester to Mumbai, then a short domestic flight to Goa on the same booking. It can be cheaper, and it suits people visiting family in Mumbai or Gujarat on the same trip. See Manchester to Mumbai.
Our tip: Keep the Mumbai to Goa flight on the same booking as your international flight. If the first flight is late, the airline rebooks the second.
Goa from the North or the Midlands?
Tell us where your family is and when you want to go. We check every airline and we’ll beat any quote*.
Goa from other UK airports
Your nearest airport decides the easiest route.
| From | Usual route to Goa | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | TUI direct in winter, or Qatar Airways via Doha | The widest choice outside London |
| Birmingham | Qatar Airways or Emirates, often via Mumbai | No direct flights to Goa |
| Glasgow and Edinburgh | Emirates via Dubai, or Qatar Airways via Doha from Edinburgh | One stop, sometimes two |
| Newcastle | Emirates via Dubai | Connect to Mumbai or Goa |
| London | TUI direct from Gatwick in winter, or one stop | Most choice of days |
Mopa or Dabolim: choose the right airport
Goa has two airports and they are a long way apart. Mopa, code GOX, is in the far north and now handles almost all international flights, including TUI and Qatar Airways. Dabolim, code GOI, is near Vasco da Gama in the south and is used mainly for domestic flights.
If you are staying in north Goa, around Candolim, Calangute, Anjuna or Arambol, Mopa is the natural choice. For the south, around Colva, Benaulim, Agonda or Palolem, a flight into Dabolim via Mumbai can save a long drive at the end of the journey. Tell us where you are staying and we will compare both.
When to go
The beach season runs from November to March, when it is dry and warm and the sea is calm. Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive weeks, and the TUI seats for late December go early. The February half-term is busy too.
From June to September the monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas, and many beach shacks close. It is green and quiet, and fares are lower, but it is not a beach holiday.
Package or flight-only
If you want a beach hotel and the TUI flight together, a package can be simple. If you are staying with family, in a villa, or moving between Goa and other parts of India, booking the flights separately gives you much more freedom over dates and airports.
We book scheduled flights to Goa from every UK airport and can combine them with hotels or a wider India trip. Our flights to Goa page covers the London routes in detail.
Combining Goa with family visits
Many of our customers visit relatives in Mumbai, Gujarat or Kerala and finish with a week in Goa. Flying into one city and home from another, with Goa in the middle, is often cheaper than two separate returns, and avoids backtracking.
Goa is about an hour by air from Mumbai and has domestic flights from Delhi, Bengaluru and other cities. A multi-city booking keeps it all on one ticket.
Travelling with children or older parents
The direct TUI flight is the easiest option for families when the dates line up. On one-stop routes, a connection in daylight with a sensible gap makes the day much easier. We can arrange wheelchair help at every airport, and request bassinets and seats together.
See our guides to flying to India with children and assisted travel for elderly passengers.
Getting around Goa
Goa is small but the roads are slow, so most people choose one area and take day trips from there. Taxis and app cabs are easy to find in the main resorts, and many visitors hire a scooter, although that needs care on busy roads and you should check your travel insurance covers it.
Old Goa, with its Portuguese churches, is a short drive from Panaji, and the spice farms around Ponda make an easy half-day out. In the south, the quieter beaches around Agonda and Palolem are a world away from the busier north.
If you are flying home from Mopa but staying in the south, allow plenty of time for the drive back to the airport, especially for an early morning departure.
Questions people ask
Do I need a visa for Goa?
Yes. Goa is part of India, so British visitors need an Indian e-Visa, a paper visa or an OCI card, plus the free e-Arrival card before landing.
How long is the flight from Manchester to Goa?
The direct TUI flight takes around ten hours. One-stop routes take longer, depending on the connection, usually fourteen hours or more in total.
Is there a direct flight from Manchester to Goa?
Yes, in winter. TUI flies direct from Manchester to Goa twice a week this season, into Mopa airport. The rest of the year you fly with one stop.
What is the best one-stop route from Manchester to Goa?
Qatar Airways via Doha, which flies all the way to Mopa on one ticket. Flying to Mumbai and connecting on a domestic flight is often cheaper.
Can I fly direct from Birmingham to Goa?
No. From Birmingham you fly one-stop with Qatar Airways or Emirates, usually connecting in Mumbai or flying into Goa via Doha.
Which Goa airport is closer to my hotel?
Mopa suits north Goa and Dabolim suits the south. Tell us where you are staying and we will compare them.
Can I book just the TUI flight without a holiday?
Sometimes. TUI sells most seats with packages, so flight-only seats depend on the date. We compare them with the scheduled routes.
When are flights to Goa most expensive?
Christmas and New Year, followed by the rest of December and the February half-term.
Can I fly from Glasgow or Edinburgh to Goa?
Yes, with one stop, usually Emirates via Dubai or Qatar Airways via Doha from Edinburgh, connecting to Goa or Mumbai.
