Indigo set to order 500 planes today, largest in history

Today, Indigo, India's largest airline, is expected to make a historic aircraft order by approving the purchase of 500 Airbus A320 Neo family aircraft, as reported. This order surpasses Air India's previous record of 470 aircraft ordered from Airbus and Boeing in March. The A320 Neo family includes the A320Neo, A321Neo, and A321 XLR aircraft.

According to the report, Indigo already has a pending delivery of 477 aircraft from the A320 family by 2030. By ordering these additional 500 planes, the airline aims to secure delivery slots and maintain a steady fleet size. Indigo plans to retire approximately 100 aircraft by 2030, while adding new planes to achieve a targeted fleet size of over 700 in the next decade.

Out of the 500 planes in the order, 300 are expected to be A321Neo and A321 XLR aircraft. These models have the capability to operate flights lasting up to eight hours, which aligns with Indigo's expansion plans in Europe.

Although Boeing pitched its 737 Max aircraft to Indigo, the airline is likely to opt for the A320Neo to ensure fleet commonality. This factor is crucial for maintaining low unit costs, which is a priority for Indigo.

Indigo now finds itself in direct competition with Air India, which is owned by the Tata Group. Air India is also aggressively improving its services and modernizing its fleet, creating a dynamic environment in the Indian aviation industry.