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Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IndiGo's ambitious expansion: launching flights to the UK and Europe as it aims for global airline status by 2030, ET Infra
Advt Advt By I know the opportunity is huge. The only thing I don't know is how huge." This is what IndiGo co-founder Rahul Bhatia had three years back told Pieter Elbers , then KLM president. That was the time the domestic market leader had set its sight on spreading its wings in the international week, IndiGo started its first flights to the UK and Europe using wet leased (hired with pilots) wide body planes and will now grow its long hauls aggressively. After Jet Airways' collapse in April 2019, Air India was the only Indian carrier for non-stops across the world."You find Indian travellers all over the world. But for a very long time, (a vast majority of them) have been deprived of the opportunity to fly an Indian operator," Elbers, who joined IndiGo as CEO in Sept 2022, told TOI after the inaugural Mumbai-Amsterdam flight touched down in his home country. In the last 2.5 years, Bhatia and Elbers have been executing a strategy to change this. Asked where the airline is in its plan to become a global airline by 2030 , he said, "We're half way through."The post-Covid travel boom made desi carriers realise they needed to get a bigger slice of the international travel pie to and from India. This was enabled by the mega Tata Group acquiring Air India & AI Express in Jan 2022 and well-capitalised IndiGo deciding to replicate its domestic success in international skies along with a big boost in the country's airport infra."The fact that we are touching down now in Europe is the start of a very new chapter in the book of IndiGo. When IndiGo started in Aug 2006, Rahul Bhatia had a certain vision and he created that (making IndiGo India's biggest domestic airline)," Elbers said. Three years back when he met Elbers, Bhatia started making moves to replicate IndiGo's domestic success in the international market too."What we see now is a bit similar to what we had seen then (2006). All the things we have been doing (since 2022) were building blocks to making IndiGo a global airline." These "building blocks" include starting Stretch (or business) on some domestic flights since last Nov as "we have some experience in serving (premium) customers when we go to Europe. The loyalty programme was started to have corporates and SMEs on board," he correspondent was in Amsterdam at the invitation of IndiGO
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IndiGo's global flight plan takes off as airline hits ‘half way' mark of a big dream
When IndiGo co-founder Rahul Bhatia met then-KLM president Pieter Elbers three years ago, he told him: 'I know the opportunity is huge. The only thing I don't know is how huge.' That meeting marked the early days of IndiGo's plan to expand beyond its domestic dominance and enter international long-haul operations in a serious way. Now, that vision is unfolding. Last week, IndiGo began operating flights to the UK and Europe using wet-leased wide-body aircraft, marking a significant shift in its growth trajectory. Until now, Air India was the only Indian airline operating twin-aisle aircraft for nonstop international routes following the collapse of Jet Airways in April 2019. With its first long-haul flights now underway, IndiGo plans to grow this business aggressively. After the inaugural Mumbai-Amsterdam flight landed in the Netherlands, Pieter Elbers — who joined IndiGo as CEO in September 2022 — told ToI, 'You find Indian travellers all over the world. But for very long, (a vast majority of them) have been deprived the opportunity to fly an Indian operator.' Over the past two-and-a-half years, Bhatia and Elbers have been putting into motion a clear strategy to change that. When asked where the airline stood on its plan to become a global airline by 2030, Elbers told ToI - 'We're half way through.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo The post-Covid travel boom pushed Indian carriers to chase a larger share of the growing international travel market. The move was aided by the Tata Group's acquisition of Air India and Air India Express in January 2022, IndiGo's robust financial position, and ongoing upgrades to India's airport infrastructure. 'The fact that we are touching down now in Europe is a big thing because of a number of firsts for us — flying long haul, serving hot meals and having Stretch on international flights. So it is much more than just two new destinations in Europe. It is the start of a very new chapter in the book of IndiGo. When IndiGo started in Aug 2006, Rahul Bhatia had a certain vision and he created that (making IndiGo India's biggest domestic airline),' Elbers told ToI. Live Events Bhatia had started laying the groundwork for IndiGo's global play even before Elbers joined. Both men shared a common view — that IndiGo's international ambition had the potential to become something very large. Since 2022, the airline has pursued a series of deliberate steps that Elbers described as 'building blocks to making IndiGo a global airline. These steps are not just individual or random. They are all part of a holistic plan.' These building blocks include introducing Stretch — IndiGo's business-class style offering — on select domestic routes last November, to give the airline some exposure to premium services before launching long-haul flights to Europe. The company also rolled out a loyalty programme aimed at courting corporates and small businesses. The broader push comes from a belief in the growing power of India's aspirational middle class. As Elbers put it: 'When IndiGo was created 18 years ago, there was a vision and there was a relentless execution of that vision. What we see now (international growth) is, I believe, a bit similar to what we had seen then.' Currently, IndiGo is operating one wet-leased Boeing 787 from Norse Atlantic, which flies the Mumbai-Amsterdam and Mumbai-Manchester routes. It will add three more 787s this calendar year, followed by two more in early 2026. Routes announced so far include London and Copenhagen. IndiGo is also expecting delivery of its single-aisle Airbus A321XLR aircraft starting this year. These planes will serve longer routes such as Athens, Delhi-Bali, and other Southeast Asian destinations. Due to the closure of Pakistani airspace, IndiGo's first flights to Europe are originating from Mumbai, as Delhi-west routes have become longer. Once Pakistani airspace reopens, Delhi will also begin operations to Europe. Elbers said: 'You have seen our network over the past few years. How we expanded at both Delhi and Mumbai. And even Bangalore and Hyderabad. We're not a single hub operator. We have multiple origins — Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore. They all have their own kind of focus areas, and and even even natural flows.' To support its long-haul ambitions over the long term, IndiGo has ordered 30 Airbus A350s, which will begin arriving in 2027. However, given persistent global supply chain delays, the airline may lease additional wide-body aircraft. Elbers said: 'We are not ruling out any opportunity or any chance. We keep looking and keep evaluating options.' IndiGo has faced challenges with aircraft availability, especially due to the grounding of many of its Airbus A320s caused by Pratt & Whitney engine issues. At its peak, 79 aircraft were grounded; the number has now come down to the 30s. Ongoing supply chain issues post-Covid have also slowed deliveries of planes, engines, and parts. 'Overall, we still have supply chain challenges. But our big order book (IndiGo was yet to receive 916 of the ordered Airbus planes as of last month) helps us average out deliveries. I don't want any delays, but the reality is what it is. I still hope and am cautiously optimistic that we'll have our first A321XLR before the end of this calendar year,' Elbers said. While long-term ambitions include North America, Elbers said his current focus is ensuring strong positioning in Europe first. There are also large Asian markets still untapped. 'There still are parts of Asia where we don't have any operations like Japan, Korea. And there's Australia too. With our partners Delta and, we will connect passengers to 20 North American cities (from Amsterdam),' he said. (with ToI inputs)
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
With Manchester and Amsterdam services, IndiGo boards the long-haul flight to chase its ‘global airline' ambitions
After establishing dominance in Indian skies and building a dense short-haul international network over 18-plus years, the country's largest airline IndiGo has finally forayed into the long-haul segment, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the carrier's evolution. Early July, the airline started flying non-stop to Manchester and Amsterdam from Mumbai, a milestone in its ambition to become a global airline by 2030 with its 'internationalisation strategy' as a key cornerstone. The plan involves product development to serve specific markets, building a global network by growing mid- and long-haul operations and deepening codeshare partnerships with global airlines, and inducting long-range narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, and all that while maintaining cost leadership. IndiGo—for long seen as a classic low-cost carrier (LCC)—is shaping into what its chief executive Pieter Elbers likes to call a 'fit-for-purpose' airline—one with varied product offerings in line with the demands of specific market segments, instead of the typical budget airline. Over the past year, IndiGo launched a tailor-made business class product—IndiGo Stretch—on select domestic routes, and a loyalty programme. The airline felt that there were sizable market segments within India where these offerings would work well. And beyond that, these were also part of the groundwork for the carrier's log-haul operations. On its just-launched long-haul flights—currently using damp-leased Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic—IndiGo has hot meals and in-flight entertainment included for all flyers. It is also offering the international version of its Stretch product complete with complimentary alcoholic drinks service, choice of three-course hot meals, some free amenities, and even lounge access. And this could very well be the broad template for IndiGo's long-haul operations. 'I don't think our product here is what one can label or classify as an LCC or a ULCC (ultra-low-cost carrier) product. We have hot meals and baggage included. So, it's a fit-for-purpose product and operation. For a nine-hour or 10-hour flight, we choose to have a product where food is included, instead of going through all the complexities of selling it on board. Does it mean that we have to do it all across the network, and for our five and six-hour flights? No, not at all. The fit-for-purpose for 10 hours looks different than that for four or five or six hours,' Elbers told The Indian Express after IndiGo's inaugural Mumbai-Manchester flight. 'I believe very much that IndiGo should be a fit-for-purpose airline. That means that the hundreds of routes we operate in the nation itself should have a very cost compelling basis, and with that, a very attractive price. But some of the other routes in the nation, like its busiest, might need something more, and that's why we started with IndiGo Stretch. And the same goes for these European flights. It's fit for purpose and a value-for-money proposition. It's going to be very competitive with some of the fares offered by our competitors. And importantly, it's a direct connection,' the IndiGo CEO added. IndiGo sees significant potential in the international segment, given that Indian airlines account for 45 per cent of India's international air passenger traffic, while overseas carriers account for around 55 per cent. When it comes to India-Europe passenger traffic, overseas carriers have an even higher share of around 70 per cent, some of which is up for the taking, believes IndiGo. As part of its 'internationalisation strategy', IndiGo plans to induct extra-long-range narrow-body Airbus A321 XLR aircraft starting this year and wide-body Airbus A350 planes from 2027 to operate medium- and long-range international flights. With the A350s, IndiGo should be in a position to launch non-stop services between India and North America. But Elbers—a former KLM CEO whose nearly three years at IndiGo have been focused on internationalisation—does not want to wait for its own long-range aircraft to fuel its international expansion. He and the airline are in a hurry to emerge as trailblazers on a number of long-haul routes. Therefore, IndiGo decided to enter the long-haul market using damp-leased planes. IndiGo's agreements with Norse Atlantic are for six Boeing 787-9 wide-body aircraft, one of which has been inducted and is operating the thrice weekly Mumbai-Manchester and Mumbai-Amsterdam services. The remaining five jets will be inducted over the course of this year and early next year. Over the past two to three years, IndiGo has expanded its international network by adding destinations in regions including Central Asia and the Caucasus, Southeast Asia, and Africa using its narrow-body fleet. Europe, where Air India is the only Indian carrier that operates direct flights, was expected to be the next frontier for IndiGo. According to Elbers, the fact that 65 per cent of the world's population lives within the range of IndiGo's existing narrow-body fleet underscores the potential of international expansion within this radius and beyond. In addition to Manchester and Amsterdam, IndiGo will be adding another eight international destinations in the current financial year (2025-26), growing its international network to 51 destinations. It intends to launch services to London, Copenhagen, Athens, Siem Reap, and four undisclosed Central Asian destinations. Barring Athens, the destinations in Europe and the UK are expected to be operated using the Norse Atlantic aircraft that IndiGo is taking on damp lease. Flights to Athens will be operated using the Airbus A321 XLR aircraft that IndiGo expects to start inducting in the current financial year. Siem Reap and the new destinations in Central Asia are likely to be operated using IndiGo's mainline fleet of Airbus A320 family jets. 'When it comes to building the international network the opportunity is enormous and we have indeed demonstrated that with Central Asia, and even some places in Southeast Asia. But the way I would like to see the network developed is we start to expand the range step by step. You will continue to see a lot of new routes in, let me call it the region, Southeast Asia, Gulf…So, we are expanding the density of the regional international network, and at the same time continuously expand the borders of that network and stretch the scope of where we fly,' Elbers said. IndiGo also sees its codeshare partnerships with other international carriers as a tool for network development as it would help the airline study the traffic flows and demand and plan its own long-haul network densification over the coming years. Specific to IndiGo's foray into Europe and the UK is the carrier's recently announced partnership with Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic, and Air France-KLM, which will help it offer connections to other points in Europe and the US from points that IndiGo would be flying to in Europe. 'I think partnerships, until a few years back, were very much foreign airlines flying to India and then putting their passengers on our domestic network, benefiting from IndiGo's enormous domestic network. I think we are now making it much more reciprocal. So, for example, KLM has 30 destinations in India connecting on their flights from some major Indian cities. Now, we're going to have connections on KLM from Amsterdam. With Virgin (Atlantic), same story. We'll have connections with Virgin here in Manchester itself. So, it's going to be more reciprocal now, and it's surely going to help the further development of our network,' Elbers said. The reporter was in Manchester at IndiGo's invitation for the launch of the airline's Mumbai-Manchester non-stop service. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
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Business Standard
06-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Amsterdam crucial point for connecting with rest of Europe, America: IndiGo
IndiGo, India's largest airline with a domestic market share of 64 per cent, is fast expanding its overseas reach with new routes and partnerships Press Trust of India Amsterdam Expanding its international wings, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has said Amsterdam will be an important point to connect with the rest of Europe and North America and highlighted it is a "fit for purpose" airline. IndiGo, India's largest airline with a domestic market share of 64 per cent, is fast expanding its overseas reach with new routes and partnerships. Marking the foray into Europe, IndiGo this week, commenced direct services from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam, with Elbers describing the launches as a "momentous occasion". "I think the story now is by touching in Europe. The change is much more profound than just two new destinations. It's a change of product. It's a change in some of the partnerships. It's a change of profile," Elbers told PTI. With a fleet of more than 400 planes, IndiGo flies to over 90 domestic and 40 overseas destinations, with the latest additions being the start of services to Manchester and Amsterdam on July 1 and 2, respectively. Elbers said Amsterdam airport is great for connectivity and it certainly will become an important point to connect from here to the rest of Europe and North America. The airline plans to add 10 new international destinations to its network in the current fiscal year ending March 2026. Other planned destinations include London, Copenhagen, and Athens. In an interview with PTI in Amsterdam, a day after its inaugural flight landed in the Dutch city, the IndiGo CEO said the launches mark a new chapter in the airline's wonderful book and that more chapters are to come. Elaborating on the internal changes in moving to long haul services, Elbers said IndiGo is a "fit-for-purpose airline" and the carrier had one clear sort of product from the start. "What we have now done is we have made kind of groups of products depending on the routes we operate. So the product we have now on Manchester, we can also use the same for London or for Copenhagen. "And the product we have on domestic sectors, we can just keep adding domestic sectors. So there's some change internally," he noted. According to him, the aim is to make Indian passengers feel at home and non-Indian passengers have a flight on IndiGo that will also be the start of their journey to India. "So, it should be sort of contemporary Indian or Indian with a global twist type of approach. I think that is what's the objective," Elbers said. For the long haul operations, IndiGo is damp leasing six wide-body Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norway's Norse Atlantic Airways. Currently, one of them is being used for the three weekly flights each to Manchester and Amsterdam from Mumbai. Elbers said IndiGo expects to take three more planes from Norse Atlantic in October-November time frame and the remaining two are expected to come in the first quarter of 2026. The airline is set to induct long range narrow-body A321 XLR planes by the end of this year or early 2026 and this aircraft will allow the carrier to add destinations like Athens. "It (A321 XLR) will allow us to add new destinations such as Athens. It will also allow us to do destinations from different points in India... "Today, we fly to Nairobi from Mumbai. Perhaps in the future, given the huge Gujarati community in that part of Africa, we may operate out of Ahmedabad. I'm not saying we do, but we may," Elbers said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IndiGo to continue Istanbul flights after Turkish Airlines lease ends; Codeshare partnership remains unchanged
DGCA Gives Final Deadline for Turkish Lease IndiGo CEO: "We Will Continue Flying to Istanbul" Live Events Codeshare with Turkish Airlines Still On Supply Chain Issues Still a Challenge IndiGo's Massive Network Still Growing (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel IndiGo is preparing for a major change in its international operations. The airline will soon stop using two large aircraft it had leased from Turkish Airlines to run flights to Istanbul. But IndiGo has made it clear, it is not backing out of the Istanbul 30 May, India's aviation regulator DGCA gave IndiGo a final three-month extension on the lease of two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from Turkish Airlines. The lease will now end on 31 August, after which IndiGo must stop using these decision came at a time when India's relations with Turkiye have been tense, especially after Turkiye supported Pakistan following India's strikes on terror camps in an interview with PTI from Amsterdam, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers confirmed that the airline is actively looking for ways to continue flying to Istanbul once the lease ends.'Well, we're looking at different scenarios now on how to look for a solution to continue to operate to Istanbul, because we will continue to operate to Istanbul,' Elbers option IndiGo is exploring is using its own A321 aircraft on the route. Although smaller than the leased Boeing 777s, these planes can still handle medium-haul international the leasing issues, IndiGo is not ending its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines. When asked about this, Elbers said, 'There's no reason why we shouldn't.'A codeshare allows airlines to sell seats on each other's flights, making travel easier for passengers by offering more destinations on a single also shared that supply chain problems continue to affect the aviation industry. Though the worst is over, the airline is still facing delays in getting aircraft and spare added that IndiGo has handled the challenges well by extending leases and making other adjustments. This has helped reduce the number of grounded planes over currently operates a fleet of over 400 aircraft and runs more than 2,200 flights every day. With plans to keep Istanbul on the map and manage international partnerships smartly, the airline seems focused on keeping its global ambitions flying high, no matter what changes come its from PTI
