Tag Archives: IndiGo

IndiGo converts MoU for 30 more Airbus A350 aircraft, will compete fully against Air India

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has finalized a commitment for 30 Airbus A350 aircraft, converting a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June into a firm order. This brings the airline’s total A350 orders to 60 aircraft. The expanded order marks a strategic shift for IndiGo as it prepares to enter the long-haul international market, leveraging the A350’s long range and efficiency to support its global ambitions.

IndiGo has made a decisive move into the long‑haul market with its order for the Airbus A350. The airline has committed to 60 A350‑900s, powered by Rolls‑Royce Trent XWB‑84 engines, with deliveries beginning in 2027 and continuing into the early 2030s. This marks a major shift for IndiGo, which has until now focused almost exclusively on short‑ and medium‑haul operations with its large fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft. The A350 order also includes purchase rights for an additional 40 aircraft, giving the airline flexibility to expand further if the strategy proves successful.

The A350‑900’s range of around 15,000 kilometers will allow IndiGo to launch non‑stop flights from India to North America, Europe, and Australia. Likely destinations under consideration include New York, San Francisco, Toronto, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney, and Melbourne. These routes would place IndiGo in direct competition with Air India, which currently dominates India–U.S. non‑stops and is in the midst of its own widebody renewal program.

IndiGo has not yet revealed its final cabin layout, but industry reports suggest a two‑class configuration with a lie‑flat business class product and a high‑density economy cabin. This would be a departure from IndiGo’s traditional all‑economy model, but necessary to compete on long‑haul routes where premium demand is strong. The airline is expected to leverage its low‑cost DNA to keep fares competitive while still offering a product that appeals to business and leisure travelers alike.

The competitive landscape is shaping up as a battle between IndiGo’s cost efficiency and scale versus Air India’s premium positioning and alliance partnerships. Air India is betting on a full‑service model with upgraded cabins, lounges, and Star Alliance connectivity, while IndiGo will rely on its massive domestic network to feed long‑haul flights and its reputation for operational efficiency. By 2030, IndiGo aims to be a true global player, challenging not only Air India but also Gulf carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways by offering direct, lower‑cost alternatives from India to key intercontinental markets.

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IndiGo places an order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft

IndiGo, India’s most preferred airline, is further defining its long-term future by
strengthening its fleet with the introduction of wide-body aircraft to its fleet. Since inception in 2006, IndiGo has been successfully building its position and is now defining its future further on the path of becoming a global aviation player.

IndiGo agreed to place an order for 30 firm A350-900 aircraft, which will enable IndiGo to spread its wings further and expand its network. From the various Indian metros, IndiGo will be able to connect to the world.

The aircraft will be powered by Rolls Royce’s Trent XWB engine. The mission capability of this aircraft coupled with the efficiency of the Trent XWB engine will offer IndiGo unprecedented optionality as it embarks on the next stage of its wonderful journey of addressing the rapidly evolving needs of the Indian customer and our nation.

Currently, IndiGo operates over 350 aircraft. Last year, in June 2023, IndiGo placed the largest ever single aircraft order by any airline for 500 aircraft with Airbus. With that, the outstanding orderbook of A320 Family aircraft stands at almost 1,000 aircraft which are yet to be delivered well into the next decade.

This IndiGo order-book comprises a mix of A320NEO, A321NEO and A321XLR aircraft.

The exact configuration of the aircraft will be decided at a later stage, and the deliveries are expected to start from 2027.

In addition to the 30 firm A350-900 order, IndiGo has Purchase Rights for an additional 70 Airbus A350 Family aircraft, at its discretion, for possible future needs under certain conditions.

In calendar year 2023, IndiGo welcomed 100 million customers onboard its flights and as such, the airline is, quite literally, giving wings to our nation. IndiGo is amongst the fastest growing airlines in the world, and this order will allow it to strengthen its growth trajectory.

Before the end of this decade, the Indian economy is expected to grow from being the world’s 5th largest today to being the 3rd largest. Specifically in aviation, the Indian government has stated its mission to ensure that by 2030 India comes into her own on the world stage of aviation leadership by building cutting-edge infrastructure and developing the country into a global aviation hub.

IndiGo aircraft photo gallery:

Air France-KLM and IndiGo codeshare takes off

Air France-KLM released this statement:

Further to the lifting of the Air Bubble Agreement in India and to the necessary governmental approval, Air France-KLM and IndiGo, India’s leading carrier, have implemented the extensive codeshare agreement announced in December 2021.

With this partnership, Air France and KLM will ultimately offer their customers access to 30 new Indian destinations and a large number of round-trip combinations for both business and leisure purposes.

Customers will be able to fly to the destination of their choice with one single booking. Flying Blue members will also be able to earn miles on all routes covered by this agreement.

On departure from their respective hubs in Paris and Amsterdam, Air France and KLM already serve four destinations in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru.

On departure from the multiple points in India, Air France and KLM will open up their global network of over 300 destinations to IndiGo customers, with more than 120 destinations in Europe and about 50 in the Americas.

KLM aircraft photo gallery:

IndiGo aircraft photo gallery:

American Airlines and IndiGo announce codeshare agreement

American Airlines issued this statement about a new codeshare partner:

American Airlines and IndiGo announce a codeshare agreement, making it easier than ever for customers to travel to India.
American’s customers will have access to 29 new routes from Bengaluru and Delhi.
AAdvantage members will earn miles when traveling on American codeshare flights operated by IndiGo.

American Airlines is opening new doors across India this fall thanks to a new codeshare agreement with IndiGo, India’s leading airline.

The agreement, announced today, will place American’s code on 29 of IndiGo’s domestic routes in India, providing a convenient option for American Airlines customers arriving on the carrier’s new Bengaluru (BLR) and Delhi (DEL), India, flights. The codeshare, which will require U.S. and Indian governments’ approvals, is expected to begin in October, as American launches new service between New York (JFK) and DEL on Oct. 31 and between Seattle (SEA) and BLR on Jan. 4, 2022.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline by number of passengers carried, is based in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. With its fleet of 275+ aircraft, the airline operates more than 1,100 daily flights, connecting 70 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations. Since its founding in 2006, IndiGo’s 23,000 employees have professionally served more than 300 million customers.

Top Copyright Photo: IndiGo Airlines Airbus A320-271N WL F-WWDQ (VT-IVQ) (msn 8387) TLS (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 942970.

IndiGo aircraft slide show:

Airbus marks its 1,000th A320neo Family aircraft delivery

Airbus has delivered the 1,000^th A320neo Family aircraft. The aircraft, an A321neo produced in Hamburg, Germany, was delivered to Indian airline IndiGo.

IndiGo is the world’s biggest customer for the A320neo Family with orders totaling 430 aircraft. Since its first NEO was delivered in March 2016, its fleet of A320neo Family has grown into the world’s largest with 96 aircraft operating alongside 129 A320s. In an extremely competitive aviation market, the fuel efficient A320 Family has been instrumental in IndiGo’s rise to become India’s largest airline by fleet size and passenger numbers.

The A320neo Family is assembled at Airbus’ four global sites: Toulouse, France; Hamburg, Germany; Tianjin, China; and Mobile, USA. The world’s first A320neo was delivered in January 2016 and the programme has achieved milestones every year since: the first A321neo in 2017; the first A321LR in 2018 and the launch of the A321XLR in 2019.

The A320neo program was designed with fuel efficiency in mind. Building on the A320ceo’s popularity, the aircraft delivers 20% reduced fuel burn as well as 50% less noise compared to previous generation aircraft. Seating up to 240 passengers, depending on cabin configuration, the A320neo Family features the widest single aisle cabin in the sky and incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets. At the end of September 2019, the A320neo Family had received more than 6,660 firm orders from close to 110 customers worldwide.

Photos; Airbus.

IndiGo firms up its order for 250 Airbus A320neo aircraft – Airbus’ largest order by number

Airbus (Toulouse) has issued this statement about IndiGo (Delhi) by firming up its large Airbus A320neo Family order:

India’s largest domestic airline by market share, IndiGo celebrated their 9th birthday by firming up their last year’s commitment and ordering 250 A320neo Family aircraft. This historical aircraft purchase agreement was signed on the 69th Independence Day of India on the 15th of August, 2015.

IndiGo placed an order in 2005 for 100 A320s which have all now been delivered. In 2011 IndiGo became the first Indian operator to commit to the A320neo bringing their total to 280 Airbus aircraft. With today’s announcement, IndiGo has ordered 530 A320 Family aircraft with Airbus.

The A320neo “new engine option” incorporates many innovations, including latest generation engines and large Sharklet wing-tip devices, which together deliver 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 per cent by 2020. This is equivalent to a reduction of 5,000 tonnes of CO2 per aircraft per year.

Image: Airbus.

IndiGo aircraft slide show:

IndiGo signs MOU for 250 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft

IndiGo Airlines (Delhi) and its co-founders, Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of InterGlobe, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 250 firm A320neo Family aircraft. The agreement will become Airbus’ single largest order by number of aircraft.

IndiGo has previously placed orders for 280 Airbus aircraft (100 A320ceo and 180 A320neo).

IndiGo is celebrating its 8th anniversary.

Top Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A3e20-232 VT-IEI (msn 4813) arrives in Dubai.

IndiGo:

Current Route Map:

IndiGo Aircraft Slide Show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Asia-2/Airlines-Asia2-FP/IndiGo-Airlines

Vide: The Airbus A320 and the A320neo:

Video: 2010 TV commercial for IndiGo:

IndiGo performs the first RNP approach into Kochi, India’s first

IndiGo Airlines (Delhi) on June 24 conducted the first ever Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approach in regular airline operations, while landing at Kochi on their scheduled flight, 6E 345 from Bengaluru. IndiGo has collaborated with Quovadis, a subsidiary of Airbus, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to enable an even more secure and safe landing procedure at the Kochi International Airport. IndiGo becomes the first carrier in India authorized to implement this effective, fuel-saving practice. The Kochi International Airport is India’s seventh busiest airport, and equipped with one ILS (Instrument Landing System) on runway 27 and a VOR (both ground based installations) that are used for guidance for landing procedures on both ends of the runway.

IndiGo has been working with Airbus and the government to develop and implement the RNP procedure, which brings great benefits to both the authorities and IndiGo:

Accurate flight path on contained and secure trajectories
A shorter flight path, saving 75 KM for IndiGo on each approach, which is approximately 400 kgs of fuel saving per landing, and a corresponding amount of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Freedom from dependence on conventional ground based navigation installations by using on board systems and Global Positioning System (satellite based positioning)
Easier traffic management in non-radar environments

The entire process that has been successfully validated on Airbus simulators and in the aircraft, has now been flown successfully in regular commercial operations by IndiGo on its Airbus A320 on June 23, 2012.