Indian low-cost giant IndiGo has quickly become a major player in the global aircraft market with a massive fleet and even more orders. With over 250 aircraft in service today, the airline has big plans for the future. Let’s find out more.
Single aircraft
Those familiar with IndiGo will find that it adheres strictly to the low-cost playbook of operating a single aircraft type. The carrier chose the Airbus A320 as its plane of choice and has stuck by it for over 15 years now.
Today, IndiGo’s fleet has evolved beyond just one type. To serve regional routes across the country, the carrier added a fleet of ATR72-600 from 2017 onward. As of now, IndiGo operates a fleet of 250 aircraft, including:
- 133 Airbus A320neos
- 45 A321neos
- 39 A320-200s
- 33 ATR72-600
There is also little variation in the cabin configuration. The A320s feature a 3-3 all-economy layout, featuring 180-186 seats. The larger A321neos feature 221-232 seats in the same layout. As is expected from a LCC, legroom and recline are limited but not the industry worst.
However, IndiGo recently announced that it will configure select A321neos in a long-haul layout for flights over seven hours. These planes will feature more comfortable seats, greater legroom, and ovens for hot inflight meals.
Big plans
IndiGo burst onto the scene with its record-breaking aircraft deal in 2006. This trend has not slowed, and the carrier now has around 700 planes on order with Airbus.
This ensures the airline is well future-proofed and holds a place in the packed delivery queue for the A320 family. Even after the pandemic hit, IndiGo continued to take deliveries, using the sudden availability to quadruple its A321neo fleet and replace all aging jets.
IndiGo was one of the early customers for the A321XLR. The carrier hopes to disrupt the long-haul market with these jets, flying to Western European destinations like Paris and London as well as further East to Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing.
For now, IndiGo remains Airbus’ most valuable customer in India, with Boeing far behind in the narrow body market. With more orders only inevitable, IndiGo hopes to sustain its current growth.
Widebodies?
Despite IndiGo’s love for the A320, the subject of widebodies has come up several times. Each time, the carrier has stepped back from pulling the trigger, opting to wait for longer-range narrowbodies for operations.
However, as aircraft prices fall and new routes open up, IndiGo could reconsider its stance. More likely, though, is IndiGo decided to stick by the low-cost model and focus on the A321XLR for international flying, while the smaller jets handle domestic routes.
What do you think about IndiGo’s fleet? Have you flown with them before? Let us know in the comments!
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