InterGlobe Aviation-run IndiGo will start taking deliveries of its widebody Airbus A350 aircraft by 2027, the airline's chief executive officer Pieter Elbers said at a conference call on April 30.
"Exact configuration of aircraft to be finalised at a later stage; deliveries will start in 2027," the Elbers said in the conference call.
He added that IndiGo decided to buy widebody aircraft because the Indian market is underrepresented and underserved.
"To cater to the untapped Indian international market IndiGo has placed an order for 30 Airbus A350 jet along with IndiGo's existing A321XLR range," Elbers said.
He added that IndiGo order for widebody planes will help in achieving the Indian government's vision of making India a global aviation hub.
On April 25, low-cost carrier IndiGo placed order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, worth $9 billion. This is the Rahul Bhatia-led airline's first purchase of widebody aircraft after operating two widebody planes on the Delhi-Istanbul route for the last 15 months (since February 1, 2023).
IndiGo, whose parent is InterGloble Aviation, also has the right to buy up to 70 more of the Airbus aircraft.
With a fleet of 358 aircraft, comprising 312 Airbus A320 family planes, 44 ATR aircraft, and two Boeing 777 planes, IndiGo, with its 60 percent share in the domestic market, has clearly shown it knows how to be efficient and effective.
Elbers added that IndiGo is keeping its options open to introduce dual-class configuration for its A350 aircraft and a final decision will be taken close to the arrival of the new aircraft.
"India is changing rapidly. The country, its aspirations, today are very different from a decade ago. Ten years down the line, will be different. Our A350 deliveries begin in 2027 and we will talk about the product offering close to then," Elbers said, adding he wouldn't like to put a "label" on the same as yet.
He also said that the airline has learned much from its damp lease operations of two Boeing 777s on the Delhi- Istanbul route for the last 15 months.
Elbers also said that IndiGo will explore all possible options before coming up with an economically prudent method for financing its A350 aircraft purchase.
IndiGo also did not disclose the routes on which it would operate its A350 aircraft.
"We are analysing the routes, but the planes have the capabilities to reach the destinations (USA and Europe) directly," Elbers said in response to a question about foreign routes.
Indigo's latest order comes on the heels of an earlier commitment last year, when it placed the largest-ever single aircraft order by any airline for 500 aircraft with Airbus.
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