Delhi: IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share and fleet, has said it will place a firm order 30 Airbus widebody aircraft.
The Airbus 350-900 aircraft will enable IndiGo to significantly expand its international network to become a global aviation player, the Gurugram-headquartered low-cost carrier said in a statement on Thursday.
“[The] fleet of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft will allow IndiGo to embark on its next phase of becoming one of the leading global aviation players,” the statement quoted Pieter Elbers, company CEO.
IndiGo was in talks with Europe’s Airbus and America’s Boeing for widebody jets to enlarge operations on long-haul international routes. With this order, the carrier, which has been operating with an all-Airbus fleet since its inception in 2006, has reiterated its confidence in the European aircraft maker.
“With the A350 selection, Indigo is now embarking on further opening the world to India. We will support the airline to take this pioneering and strategic step,” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft, said separately.
Although the size of the deal isn’t known at the moment, IndiGo has always been offered the best price on aircraft purchases by Airbus.
Capable of accommodating around 400 passengers in a standard three-class configuration, the aircraft can fly non-stop on ultra-long-range routes of up to 18,000 km. However, IndiGo said the final seat configuration is yet to be decided. Deliveries are expected to commence in 2027.
Advantage of Unprecedented Optionality
The carrier expects the mission capability of A350-900 aircraft coupled with Rolls Royce’s Trent XWB engine to provide it with “unprecedented optionality” as it enters the next phase of growth in the world’s fastest-growing airline market.
“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,” the company statement added.
In June 2023, IndiGo placed the single-largest aircraft order by a carrier for 500 aircraft with Airbus, the largest by any carrier to date globally. The announcement came within four months of national flag carrier Air India announcing a mega-order for 470 wide and narrowbody aircraft with the European aircraft maker Airbus and America’s Boeing.
The carrier currently operates a fleet of over 350 aircraft. With nearly 1,000 aircraft, its order book comprises a mix of A320NEO, A321NEO and A321XLR aircraft.
Launched in August 2006, IndiGo welcomed its 100 millionth passenger last year. Earlier this month, it became the world’s third-most valuable airline by market capitalisation after US’s Delta Airlines and Ireland’s Ryanair.
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