Indian low-fare airline IndiGo is officially venturing into the widebody sector with its firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft and purchase rights for 70 A350 Family aircraft.
The carrier currently operates 350 aircraft, and despite being the largest low-fare airline in India, it has only ever operated narrowbody aircraft. Now, that is about to change. These widebody aircraft will allow IndiGo to operate longer international routes and expand its connectivity on both a domestic and international scale. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls Royce’s Trent XWB engine.
These 30 aircraft will be added to Airbus’s current backlog, and deliveries are expected to start in 2027. The exact configuration of the aircraft has yet to be decided.
IndiGo currently has over 1,000 A320 Family aircraft on order and is set to strengthen its growth trajectory. Photo: Airbus
Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said, “Today’s historic moment marks a new chapter for IndiGo and will further shape the future of the airline and for Indian aviation at the same time.”
He added that this new fleet of A350 aircraft “will allow IndiGo to embark on its next phase of becoming one of the leading global aviation players.”
Currently, IndiGo has over 1,000 Airbus A320 Family aircraft on order after its record-breaking announcement in June at the 2023 Paris Airshow.
The Indian economy is expected to expand rapidly, from the fifth to the third largest in the world, before the end of the decade. The Indian government is developing its UDAN scheme to open 100 airports by 2030 and boost regional connectivity. With this new order in the pipeline, IndiGo is well-placed to contribute to this mission.
