Indian budget carrier IndiGo has significantly amplified its commitment to long-haul international travel with an added order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
The announcement, made at the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual general meeting currently underway in Delhi, brings the airline’s total firm order for the wide-body jets to 60. Representatives from simple flying were present at the industry event when the news broke.
This latest development was widely anticipated within the aviation sector. IndiGo’s initial order, placed in May of the previous year, included a firm commitment for 30 A350-900s along with options for a further 70 aircraft.
The current announcement confirm that the airline is now converting 30 of these options into firm orders, signaling a strong push towards expanding its global footprint, with a substantial fleet of 60 airbus A350-900s on order, IndiGo has declared this move a pivotal step in realizing its long-term international growth strategy.
According to the airline, this strategic decision will empower them to extend their reach into the long-haul international market, establishing direct connections between major Indian metropolitan cities and a wider array of global destinations. This expansion is expected to provide IndiGo’s customers with a greater variety of International travel choices and enhance connectivity to the network hubs of its partner airlines.
The entire fleet of IndiGo’s A350 aircraft will be motorized by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The airline emphasizes that this significant aircraft order will play a crucial role in addressing the rapidly evolving needs of the Indian aviation market and supporting the nation’s growing demand for international travel. These new airbus A350s are principal to IndiGo’s plans to enter the long-haul marketplace, with the first batch of 30 aircraft expected to arise delivery in 2027.
Speaking at the IATA AGM 2025, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers indicated that deliveries if the subsequent 30 A350s will commence after the initial deliveries are completed, extending into the next decade.
In the interim, to expedite its entry into the long-haul segment, IndiGo has also secured a damp lease agreement for six Boeing 787 aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2026 and will allow IndiGo to start its long-haul actions this year.
The airline has already announced new paths from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam, booked to begin in July with aspirations to launch services to London and Copenhagen as well.
Further, bolstering its international expansion, IndiGo has also announced the strengthening of its existing partnerships with European carries KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Air France, alongside a new partnership with US-based Delta Air Lines.
This collaboration will enable IndiGo to codeshare on flights operated by these airlines to various destinations across Europe and North America, including the United States. On Sunday, Delta Air Lines also publicized it would be opening a new direction between Atlanta and Delhi.
