Indigo to Launch International Low Cost Flights

Indigo Airlines

The Gurgaon based Indian domestic carrier Indigo will be launching its first International flights on Dubai Delhi routes from First of September, 2011.
Indigo has been in an expanding mode and recently it entered into aircraft buying deals with Airbus for 180 Aircraft, some of which are meant for international flight routes as well.

The low cost flights as present constitutes only 5% of the total international flights and it is widely perceived by the airlines experts that the sector has much scope for growth given low international demand for air travel and losses of many larger airlines. As regarding India, from where the Indigo belongs, there have been strong growth in domestic air travel and Indigo has emerged as  one of the largest domestic carrier. Many Middle East cities such as Dubai and Sharjah are sought after routes mainly by the Indian residents and it do make good sense to launch low cost short distance flights on these routes. Further cities in South East Asia such as Bangkok also are sought after mainly by the outbound air travelers in India.

Indigo will fly aircraft with 180 seats the seat as it uses in the domestic flights, with a no frill model which means no in-flight entertainment,  Food or beverages. Though the competition from other entrenched players cannot be underestimated. Emirates, Tiger Airways, Air Arabia, Singapore Airlines, Air Asia and even Air India have operations on these routes and they may further decrease the tickets prices. The incentive for International flights, as per the sector analyst is not father to locate. Air fuel taxes for domestic flights are around 30 % while for the international flights it is just 4%. So the same no frills aircraft if used for short distance international flights, will save fuel cost and may actually lead to more profits.

Indian Airlines Industry Biggest deal: Indigo Air Bus orders Unparalled In aviation History

The Indian aviation Industry has received the biggest boost till date with the Indigo Airlines Making a record deal $15.5 deal with the AirBus.

The airlines which emerged as the largest airlines in the Indian market has decided to put orders for 180 Airbus aircraft of the 320-neo series. The size of the aircraft purchase deal is by far unprecedented in aviation Industry.The aircraft are scheduled by the airbus over next 9 years starting from 2016 - 2025. This deal will go down as the largest single order deal in the history of commercial aviation history, making Indigo the launch customer for the New A320-neo series of Aircraft.

Indigo has emerged as a major Low cost airlines carrier in India and the major reason stated behind the deals is the efficiency of engines and large wing tip devices called Sharklets that are also capable of significant fuel savings of up to 15 percent are the few plus points of these new jets.


Incidentally IndiGo got the government's nod to induct 150 aircraft only recently. Going by the trends of the Indian airlines sector there is huge gap in demand and supply of Airlines seats available some projections estimate that India would requires more thousands of aircraft to meet the rising demands. It is to be noted that Indigo will receive 100 aircraft by 1015 which it ordered in 2005.

The choice of The new series of the A 320 is very mature as the aircraft offers unparalleled fuel efficiency (A-320 neo) which would help Indigo to continue to offer low fares.Indigo will also be ale to offer International flights by August 2011 and will most probably Concentrate on catering to the Airlines Booking demands in the SE Asia and Gulf region. Air India Express  is going to be a major Competitor in these regions.