Indian low-cost giant IndiGo is in news yet again, and according to reports it is all set to place a record-breaking order for nearly 500 aircraft with aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
This order is expected to be for the A320 family variant. If and when the deal is finalised this will be the single largest order in the history, overtaking the mega order placed by Air India.
Air India’s order is a combination of both narrowbody and widebody aircraft variants, and it is split between both the major manufacturers – Airbus and Boeing.
On the other hand, the potential order in the offing from IndiGo will be for the narrowbody A320 aircraft only with the complete order going solely to Airbus.
The road to expansion
IndiGo has been on a road of rapid expansion in both domestic as well as international and the airline is still awaiting delivery of almost around 500 aircraft from its order book of 830 A320 family.
The carrier recently announced new routes connecting India to six new destinations in Africa and Central Asia.
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IndiGo also said that it will be connecting Nairobi in Kenya and Jakarta in Indonesia with direct flights from Mumbai in late July or early August.
It also added that in August Delhi will be connected to Tbilisi, Georgia & Baku, Azerbaijan and in September to Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Turbulent times in Indian aviation
This rapid expansion by the major low-cost airline comes amid turbulent times in the Indian aviation industry, which has seen Go First forced to shut down its operations and SpiceJet currently struggling to stay afloat.
Reports also indicates that IndiGo is also actively engaged in talks with both Airbus and Boeing to purchase widebody aircraft. It is reportedly planning to buy either Airbus A330 or Boeing 787 aircraft.
Notably, the airline currently operates a Boeing 777 which is wet leased from Turkish airlines and is painted in IndiGo’s very own livery. The least aircraft operates on the Delhi – Istanbul route currently and it is also said the second leased Boeing 777 will connect Mumbai to Istanbul.
Indian aviation is currently going through surprising times and only time will confirm all the details of this mega order for IndiGo.
