TBM Staff - Mumbai
Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, emphasised that the airline should not be categorised as a low-cost carrier (LCC) due to its unique features and measures taken by the airline. Speaking at the CAPA India Aviation Summit 2024, Elbers highlighted several points that differentiate IndiGo from traditional LCCs:
• Frequent Flights: IndiGo operates 20 daily flights between Delhi and Mumbai, which is not typical of LCCs.
• Co-Branded Credit Card: The airline has a co-branded credit card, which is not common among LCCs.
• Codeshare Partnerships: IndiGo has 8 codeshare partners, including Japan Airlines, which is a significant departure from traditional LCCs. The airline has codeshare agreements with Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Air France-KLM, and Qantas Airline.
Elbers believes that IndiGo has moved beyond the traditional LCC model and is developing in a way that suits its unique market and country. He emphasised that the airline’s strategy includes introducing new aircraft like the A321XLR and widebody planes to cater to long-haul routes such as India-US and India-Europe.
The A321XLR has a longer range than typical narrowbody planes like the A320neo and B737, while widebody planes have a bigger fuel tank that allows them to operate flights on long-haul routes.
IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, recently announced the introduction of business class on its aircraft, marking a significant shift from its current economy-only seating. The airline is also in talks with ATR for another 100 planes for its regional operations, following its record-breaking orders for 500 A320neo family planes in June last year and 30 A350 wide-body planes in April this year.
