New widebody order signals IndiGo’s long haul intentions

When an airline already has nearly 1,000 aircraft on order, the addition of another 30 may not sound all that noteworthy. But Indian carrier IndiGo's latest deal is very significant, because it highlights the LCC's ambitions to expand its range into new markets.

IndiGo announced a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900s on 25-Apr-2024 - a move that had been widely expected for several months.

These will be the first new widebodies operated by the airline. IndiGo currently bases its business model on Airbus narrowbody aircraft, with a few leased Boeing 777s.

Deliveries of the A350s are expected to begin in 2027, and the airline has also secured purchase rights for a further 70 of these aircraft.

IndiGo has long talked of its plans to channel more of its growth into international since the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a sensible strategy, not only because of the massive potential of the Indian travel market, but also because the domestic market is already fiercely competitive.