IndiGo on Sunday announced that it is further strengthening its fleet by signing an MoU with Airbus to enlarge its wide-body aircraft order by converting 30 aircraft of its purchase rights for 70 aircraft into a firm order.
At a briefing in the national capital, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said that out of the option for 70 planes, it is now placing a firm order of 30 aircraft. The airline has over 900 planes on order that are to be delivered in the coming years.
The country's largest airline is expanding its international network and is set to operate flights to 10 new overseas cities with leased Boeing 787 planes in the current fiscal year ending March 2026.
Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Airbus commercial aircraft vice-president of sales, hailed "IndiGo's incredible rise". "You have democratised flying in India, and now you want to expand internationally," he said.
The A350 planes, with ranges of up to 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles), will allow it to expand its network further.
Last year in April 2024, IndiGo decided to induct widebody aircraft in its fleet by placing a firm order for 30 A350-900 aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional 70 aircraft. The original order’s deliveries are expected to start in 2027.
"This strategic move will enable IndiGo to spread its wings further and expand its long-haul international network, connecting Indian metros to different parts of the world," the company said in a statement.
"With this, it will create more travel options for its customers to new international destinations and also enable more flights to the hubs of its partner airlines," the statement further added.
IndiGo’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft will be powered by Rolls Royce’s Trent XWB engine. The mission capability of this aircraft, coupled with the efficiency of the Trent XWB engine, will offer IndiGo unprecedented optionality and reach as it embarks on the next stage of its wonderful journey of addressing the rapidly evolving needs of the Indian market and our nation.
In March 2025, IndiGo began preparing for its long-haul operations with the introduction of six temporarily leased wide-body aircraft, deliveries of which will be concluded by 2026.
*With Agency Inputs
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