Following Air India’s blockbuster aircraft order earlier this year, we ask the following question: Could Air India occupy the space of IndiGo in the future?
With the Indian flagship carrier undergoing major change which will affect the footing of the carrier in the long term, it is definitely a question to ask.
Without further ado, let’s get into it…
The Numbers from IndiGo & Air India Hold A Major Difference Currently…
At this present moment, and understandably so, IndiGo’s numbers are substantially higher than that of Air India.
From May 30-June 6, IndiGo operated 1,846 flights, which represents an increase of 16.03% compared to the same period last year.
This figure also represents a significant increase of 503 movements compared to 2019 levels, showing the heavy growth that the India-based low-cost carrier has experienced in recent years.
Below is the last four weeks’ worth of data from the carrier:
| Date | 2019 Numbers | 2022 Numbers | 2023 Numbers | Percentage Difference (2023 vs. 2022) |
| May 2-9 | 1336 movements | 1612 movements | 1806 movements | +12.03% |
| May 9-16 | 1349 movements | 1609 movements | 1829 movements | +13.67% |
| May 16-23 | 1362 movements | 1588 movements | 1825 movements | +14.92% |
| May 23-30 | 1351 movements | 1608 movements | 1832 movements | +13.93% |
What we can see is that IndiGo is consistently hitting double-digit growth week-on-week, and this will no doubt continue to be their pattern moving forward.
On the Air India side, the carrier handled 422 movements between May 30-June 6, which represents an increase of 36.57% compared to the same period last year.
However, this figure is around 48 movements shy of achieving pre-pandemic levels, but again, the airline is in the midst of a transformative program currently.
Below is the last four weeks’ worth of data from the carrier:
| Date | 2019 Numbers | 2022 Numbers | 2023 Numbers | Percentage Difference (2023 vs. 2022) |
| May 2-9 | 450 movements | 319 movements | 393 movements | +23.20% |
| May 9-16 | 453 movements | 314 movements | 405 movements | +28.98% |
| May 16-23 | 454 movements | 305 movements | 406 movements | +33.11% |
| May 23-30 | 451 movements | 309 movements | 421 movements | +36.25% |
What we can see from the data is that despite the numbers being nowhere near IndiGo’s, improvements are being made operationally by Air India.
In The Context of the Major Order Under Vihaan.AI…
What is going to be a real indicator of change within the aviation landscape in India is when Air India starts receiving hundreds of aircraft.
From there, new services will be launched both internationally and domestically by the airline, which will take the fight to IndiGo.
However, with its low-cost rival delving into the international market with flights to Istanbul, are we going to get to a position where this will be too late for the legacy carrier, or will the Indian consumer change their mind over to a more premium approach to travel?
The next decade will be an interesting one to watch, especially with travel in India expanding at a huge rate.
