The largest airline in India, indigo
, is allegedly close to signing a big contract with Norse Atlantic
Airways to wet-lease six Boeing 787-9
Dreamliners. The deal, mentioned by The Economic Times and other industry sources, is anticipated to be finalized shortly and would help IndiGo achieve its lofty goals of starting long-haul international service as early as 2025 to major European cities, including London
and Paris
.
A strategic move into long-haul markets
The wet-lease arrangement is part of IndiGo’s broader strategy to expand its international network and capture a larger share of long-haul travel. Under the terms of the agreement, Norse Atlantic will lease its Boeing 787-9 aircraft to IndiGo for a period starting in 2025. The airline plans to take delivery of two Dreamliners by February 2025, with the remaining four joining the fleet by September 2025.
The move follows the recent clearance by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for airlines to wet-lease aircraft in order to enhance operational flexibility and facilitate network expansion, India TV news reported. Without having to wait for new aircraft deliveries, IndiGo will be able to quickly expand its capacity on international routes through a Wet lease
, in which the lessor supplies both the aircraft and the crew.
Photo: BoeingMan777 | Shutterstock
Getting past fleet limitations
Currently, IndiGo focuses on short- and medium-haul flights and has a fleet of more than 400 aircraft, most of which are Airbus
aircraft, according to the information on planespotters.net. The possible addition of Boeing 787-9s indicates a significant change in approach. The airline can expand to European locations at a reasonable cost without having to make an immediate investment in new widebody aircraft thanks to the 787’s long-haul capability and fuel economy.
Although the majority of IndiGo’s fleet consists of narrow-body aircraft, this will be the airline’s first major entry into wide-body aircraft operation. Despite having previously leased wide-body Boeing 777-300ER
s for use on India-Turkey lines, IndiGo will now have the freedom to use the 787-9s on a number of foreign routes thanks to this new agreement.
Related
IndiGo’s Fleet And Finances: The Price Of Ambitious Growth For Emerging Carriers
The airline still has dozens of aircraft grounded.
Since IndiGo wants to compete with Air India
, which is rapidly growing its long-haul operations with a sizable order of wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, the timing is critical. By entering the long-haul market, IndiGo would be able to capitalize on the rising demand for direct flights from India to Europe, especially to important hubs like Paris and London.
More aircraft to come
According to ch-aviation research, IndiGo Airlines announced earlier this month that it will wet-lease six B737 aircraft from Corendon Airlines during the forthcoming northern winter. From December 14, 2024, until March 29, 2025, the aircraft will fly for the Indian low-cost airline.
Photo: WeChitra | Shutterstock
This agreement is a component of a larger plan to broaden IndiGo’s global reach and diversify its fleet. The airline ordered 30 Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft in 2024, and deliveries are scheduled to start in 2027. Until the Airbus A350
s come, the 787-9s from Norse Atlantic Airways will assist in filling the gap, enabling IndiGo to get into the long-haul market as soon as possible.
Additionally, IndiGo is getting ready to add the Airbus Airbus A321XLR
to its fleet in 2025. IndiGo will be able to run direct flights to secondary European destinations thanks to the A321XLR’s longer range, which will supplement the 787-9’s long-haul services.
Photo: ANAND G IYER | Shutterstock
IndiGo’s growing market
India is one of the world’s fastest-growing civil aviation markets. The India Express previous reported that IndiGo topped the list with a 63.6% of domestic market share.
According to The Economic Times, IndiGo’s CEO, Pieter Elbers, has stated that the airline is on track to become a major force in the global aviation industry and anticipates carrying 112 million passengers by 2024. The biggest airline in the nation carried more than 100 million passengers in 2023.
“An airline so young expects to welcome over 112 million customers in 2024, after crossing the 100 million annual customers bar last year,” Elbers said.
