IndiGo Eyes Expansion with Potential Order of Up to 100 Regional Aircraft

IndiGo, India’s leading low-fare airline, is currently in negotiations with three major aircraft manufacturers—ATR, Embraer, and Airbus—to potentially order up to 100 regional aircraft. This move comes shortly after IndiGo placed an order for 30 A350-900s, signaling a significant expansion of its network.

Sources close to the discussions revealed to the Indian Economic Times that ATR is currently leading the race. IndiGo is considering continuing with ATR to leverage economies of scale as it expands its operations. However, the airline is also evaluating other models such as the Airbus A220 and Embraer’s E175 as part of its strategic fleet expansion.

IndiGo already has a substantial fleet of 45 ATR 72-600 aircraft and anticipates the addition of five more within the year. The market growth in India is expected to position it as ATR’s largest market within the next decade, driven by increasing travel demands and the government’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme aimed at enhancing the accessibility of air travel.

Jean-Pierre Clercin, ATR’s Asia-Pacific commercial head, emphasized the growing need for regional air travel at a press briefing. “While other modes of transportation are expanding, they are not keeping pace with the growing demand. Consequently, regional aviation is poised to play a significant role,” he stated.

Currently, IndiGo’s fleet includes Airbus A320s and A321s, alongside two Boeing 777s leased on a short-term basis from its codeshare partner, Turkish Airlines. The potential acquisition of up to 100 new regional aircraft underscores IndiGo’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and meeting the rapidly increasing travel needs within and possibly beyond India.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, laranews.net