• | 12:00 pm

IndiGo orders 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft to enter wide-body space

IndiGo has purchase rights for an additional 70 Airbus A350 family aircraft for possible future needs under certain conditions

IndiGo orders 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft to enter wide-body space
[Source photo: Chetan Jha/Press Insider]

India’s budget carrier IndiGo has entered into an agreement with Airbus for a firm order of 30 A350-900 aircraft, further expanding its fleet to the wide-body segment after nearly two decades of operating narrow-body planes. 

In addition, IndiGo has purchase rights for another 70 Airbus A350 family aircraft for possible future needs under certain conditions.

The aircraft powered by Rolls Royce’s Trent XWB engine will enable IndiGo to connect various metros with the world, the airline said. 

“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,” IndiGo said in a press release. 

IndiGo currently operates over 350 narrow-body aircraft and two wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines for its Istanbul-Delhi and Istanbul-Mumbai routes. 

With a 60% share of the Indian aviation market, IndiGo is operating over 2,000 daily flights and connecting 88 domestic destinations and 35 international destinations.  

Last year in June, 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 which are yet to be delivered well into the next decade. This IndiGo order-book comprises a mix of A320NEO, A321NEO, and A321XLR aircraft.

This new order will bring the strategic relationship between IndiGo and Airbus to an unprecedented level in terms of depth, breadth, and size, the carrier said. 

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

Commenting on the deal, Pieter Elbers, the chief executive officer of IndiGo, said, “Today’s historic moment marks a new chapter for IndiGo and will further shape the future of the airline and for Indian aviation at the same time. For IndiGo, after successfully pioneering the Indian skies with an unprecedented journey, its 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.”

“At IndiGo, we take pride in being India’s preferred airline and for offering connectivity to our customers, in and with India. This reaffirms IndiGo’s belief in, and commitment to, the growth of India, and in our strategic partnership with Airbus,” Elbers said. 

More Top Stories: