India-based low-cost carrier IndiGo is looking to order up to 500 aircraft from Airbus.
The all-Airbus airline is reportedly close to finalizing an agreement with the manufacturer, according to a report by Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter. There was no indication of what kind of aircraft IndiGo is looking to order but it would all be from the A320neo family, including the A321XLR.
IndiGo is currently also wet leasing three Boeing 777-300ERs from Turkish Airlines. One of the aircraft was recently reconfigured to seat a total of 531 passengers, 524 of which would sit in Economy Class, according to ch-aviation.com data. In comparison, Emirates’ two-class Airbus A380s seat a total of 557 passengers in Economy Class, with the remaining 58 seats offered as Business Class seats.
The 500-strong aircraft order would overshadow Air India’s recent shopping spree in February 2023. When the Indian carrier agreed to a total of 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing. At the time, the airline purchased 250 and 290 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, respectively, including options.
However, these appear not to be firm orders because Air India is still firming up the details and neither Airbus nor Boeing have included the large number of aircraft in their backlogs.
As of April 31, 2023, according to Airbus Orders & Deliveries data, IndiGo had ordered a total of 730 A320neo and A321neo aircraft, with the manufacturer having delivered 167 and 81 so far, respectively.
Much like its Indian counterpart Go First, IndiGo has been having issues with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine, with slow turnaround times (TAT) at Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) companies extending aircraft on ground (AOG) times. According to ch-aviation.com data, 42 of the airline’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft are currently grounded, with only two A321neos having the CFM International LEAP 1-A engines, the alternative to the PW1100G on the A320neo aircraft family.