IndiGo Orders 30 More Airbus A350 to Expand Long-Haul Fleet

IndiGo has significantly deepened its long-haul strategy by placing a firm order for 30 additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, bringing its total confirmed A350 commitment to 60. The announcement was made on June 2 during the IATA Annual General Meeting in Delhi, where IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers called the decision a strategic move to advance the airline’s global ambitions.

“We are placing a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900s,” said Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, which has already secured the largest contract by volume in the history of civil aviation with 500 Airbus A320 aircraft by 2023.

This latest order follows the carrier’s 2023 agreement for 30 A350s and purchase rights for 70 more. By converting 30 of those options into firm orders, IndiGo is solidifying its long-term wide-body expansion plans.

Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus’ vice president of commercial aircraft sales, applauded IndiGo’s rapid growth, saying, “IndiGo’s incredible rise is remarkable. You have democratized flying in India, and now you want to expand internationally.”

The first A350 is expected to join IndiGo’s fleet in 2027, with deliveries of the original 30 stretching into the early 2030s. The additional 30 aircraft ordered this week will arrive afterward, supporting the airline’s future international growth. Although the exact deployment schedule for the A350s has not yet been disclosed, Elbers stated that initial destinations will likely include European cities, with other long-haul markets under review.

In the meantime, IndiGo is moving forward with its long-haul expansion ahead of the A350s’ arrival. The airline will launch new international routes from Delhi to Amsterdam and Manchester this July, operated using wet-leased Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways. Pending regulatory approval, IndiGo also aims to introduce services to London, Copenhagen, and Athens as part of its broader European network expansion. London and Copenhagen will also be served by leased 787s, while the Athens route will utilize the Airbus A321XLR, which is set to enter the fleet by the end of fiscal year 2026.

This aggressive fleet expansion marks a major shift for IndiGo, which has historically focused on low-cost, short- and medium-haul operations using a narrow-body fleet. The investment in A350 wide-bodies positions the airline to compete in the long-haul market, particularly on high-demand routes between India and Europe. The move also supports IndiGo’s vision of becoming a global carrier by 2030.

By doubling its A350 order and pressing ahead with interim wide-body services using leased aircraft, IndiGo is demonstrating a clear commitment to scaling up its international presence. The order also signals growing confidence in future demand for long-haul travel to and from India, one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.

Related News : https://airguide.info/?s=IndiGo

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com, indogo, airbus.com