Tag Archives: IndiGo

Navi Mumbai Airport is one of the delayed infrastructure projects in India.

Navi Mumbai Airport to start domestic operations in April

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is set to start domestic operations in April this year, while international operations will start a month after its inauguration in May.

Earlier on December 29, the airport conducted its first flight test. During the test, an IndiGo A320 passenger aircraft landed successfully at runway 26/08 of the airport, paving the way for securing an aerodrome licence to start commercial operations.

The facility will have two runways and four terminals with a capacity to cater to 90 million passengers per annum once all five phases of the project are completed. The first and second phases will have one runway and one terminal building. The subsequent phases 3, 4, and 5 will introduce a second runway, four additional terminals, and an increased passenger capacity of 90 million.

 

 

IndiGo to add Bikaner to its route network from Feb 7

IndiGo has announced Bikaner as its 90th domestic and 127th overall destination within the 6E network. Beginning February 7, 2025, IndiGo will enhance regional connectivity with new daily direct flights between Bikaner and Delhi. This marks the airline’s fifth destination in Rajasthan.

With over 250 daily departures, IndiGo connects to 88 destinations from Delhi, including 69 domestic and 19 international locations.

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, stated, “We are pleased to announce the culturally rich and vibrant city of Bikaner as the 90th domestic destination in our 6E network and the 5th in Rajasthan. IndiGo will now operate over 460 weekly flights from Rajasthan, connecting 20 destinations directly across the country. This new route aims to promote tourism as well as trade by offering increased access to Bikaner’s rich cultural heritage and iconic historical sites. As India’s leading carrier, we remain committed to providing affordable, on-time, courteous, and hassle-free travel experiences across an unparalleled network.”

Flight Schedule

Flight No. Origin Destination Frequency Effective Departure Arrival
6E 7442 Delhi Bikaner Daily Feb 07, 2025 8:25 9:45
6E 7443 Bikaner Delhi Daily Feb 07, 2025 10:05 11:25

IndiGo Plans Early Addition of Wide-Body Planes to Fleet

IndiGo is exploring the early introduction of wide-body planes to meet growing international travel demand. Industry sources say the airline is in talks with Norse Atlantic Airways to wet-lease six B787 aircraft. Under a wet-lease, the lessor provides the plane, crew, and maintenance. IndiGo had previously ordered 30 A350 wide-body planes in April, with deliveries set for 2027. Meanwhile, competitor Air India has expanded its use of wide-body planes for both domestic and long-range international routes. IndiGo, with a fleet of 427 planes, already operates two B777 wide-body aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines on India-Istanbul routes. The airline, which began offering business class in September, is keen to increase its premium offerings.

In a statement, the airline said, “IndiGo is committed to constantly evolve to provide our customers an alternate and differentiated travel experience, which is best in class. In April, IndiGo announced the order for wide-body A350-900 aircraft with deliveries starting 2027 and alongside the XLR aircraft expected next year (2025), IndiGo is well positioned to expand our geographic reach and serve the ever-growing demand for international travel to and from India.” “In order to address this growing demand and in keeping also in mind global supply chain challenges, IndiGo is exploring interim solutions for an earlier introduction of long range aircraft to its fleet. Route and network opportunities related to these solutions are being explored at present,” it added. IndiGo’s discussions with Norse Atlantic Airways are happening at a time when the Central government is close to allowing airlines to operate wet-leased wide body planes on new routes. The government is considering this measure as the new aircraft supply from Boeing and Airbus have slowed in the last several months due to supply chain issues, etc. To meet growing demand in the country’s air travel market, Indian carriers have made four significant aircraft orders since last year. In February 2023, the Tata-run Air India Group placed an order for 470 planes: 250 with Airbus and 220 with American plane maker Boeing. (Source: The Business Standard)

Indian Airlines See 12% Rise in Domestic Passengers, Carrying 1.42 Crore in November

Indian airlines carried 1.42 crore passengers on domestic routes in November, marking an increase of nearly 12% compared to the same month last year, driven by rising air traffic demand. IndiGo led the market with a 63.6% share, followed by Air India at 24.4%, Akasa Air with 4.7%, and SpiceJet at 3.1%. While all these carriers saw their market shares grow, Alliance Air’s share remained steady at 0.7% in November, according to the latest data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The DGCA reported that from January to November 2024, domestic airlines carried 1,464.02 lakh passengers, up from 1,382.34 lakh during the same period in 2023, reflecting a growth of 5.91% year-over-year and 11.90% month-over-month. Domestic air traffic reached 142.52 lakh passengers in November, compared to 127.36 lakh in the same month the previous year. In October 2024, the number was 1.36 crore.
However, the On-Time Performance (OTP) of scheduled domestic airlines, measured at major metro airports in Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, declined in November.

Madhya Pradesh HC pushes air connectivity

 

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, while hearing a PIL on December 17, 2024, stressed the need to increase flight connectivity to Jabalpur. During the proceedings, the court orally questioned Air India’s decision to operate short flights, such as Delhi to Chandigarh, while overlooking the growing demand for flights to Jabalpur. The court also directed its queries toward private airline Indigo, urging them to explore this underserved route.

The court highlighted the importance of Jabalpur as a regional hub for both tourism and business, underlining the necessity of enhanced air connectivity to support its growth. Emphasising passenger demand and the economic potential of the city, the court pressed the airlines to reconsider their route planning strategies and prioritise connectivity for cities like Jabalpur.

Airlines were urged to respond proactively, with the court pointing out how increased connectivity could align with the government’s regional development goals. The court’s remarks also reflect a larger push for equitable air transport access across key cities in India, balancing connectivity with regional aspirations.

The PIL signifies growing awareness of the role of aviation in regional growth. The case continues to shed light on the need for airlines to cater to underserved routes, potentially transforming connectivity and driving economic growth in cities like Jabalpur.

IATA chief optimistic about India providing more bilateral flying rights

Global airlines’ grouping IATA’s chief, Willie Walsh, has expressed optimism that India will provide more bilateral flying rights as Indian carriers are set to operate more wide-body planes in the coming years.

 

India, one of the world’s fastest-growing civil aviation markets, has been cautious about increasing bilateral flying rights while working to establish itself as a global aviation hub. The introduction of more wide-body planes by Indian airlines is expected to enhance direct connectivity to international destinations.

 

“It (bilateral flying rights) will improve. If you look at the aircraft orders, the wide-body aircraft orders that IndiGo and Air India have, they want to see more rights available to them. They are not going to get rights to fly unless you give them reciprocal rights. I am optimistic that it (bilateral flying rights situation) will change,” Walsh said on the sidelines of the IATA Global Media Day in Geneva.

 

Bilateral flying rights are agreements between two countries that allow airlines from each side to operate a specified number of flights. Some foreign carriers, particularly from the Gulf, have sought increased rights to operate more flights to India, given that the existing quotas have been fully utilized.

 

In September, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu noted that the government is proactively considering requests for enhanced bilateral flying rights. “We want to promote Indian airlines because we want to create our own aviation hubs,” he said.

 

Walsh highlighted the massive potential of India’s aviation market, calling it a “transformational” opportunity for the country’s economy and the global aviation industry. However, he raised concerns about whether air traffic control and airport infrastructure could keep pace with the rapid growth in airlines’ networks.

 

Significant investments are being made in airport infrastructure, with new airports opening across India. While IndiGo and Air India group currently account for nearly 90 percent of domestic air traffic, Walsh dismissed concerns about a duopoly, emphasizing the scope for new airlines and airport expansions in the domestic market.

 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents around 340 airlines, accounting for more than 80 percent of global air traffic.