Come 2027 and IndiGo will mount nonstop flights by using its own wide body aircraft between India and far flung corners of the world. The Rahul Bhatia-founded mega budget carrier said it “has agreed” to place a firm order for 30 twin aisle Airbus A350-900 valued at over $9.5 billion at list price, along with an option for 70 more of these big birds.
With Tata Group’s Air India already operating twin aisles (Vistara merges into AI this year), Indian globetrotters will be spoilt for choice with two desi airlines - AI and IndiGo - operating medium to ultra long-haul routes on twin aisles, along with the option of taking numerous foreign carriers. IndiGo has also “agreed to order” 60 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines for its 30 A350s.
The B787 Dreamliner was considered by IndiGo but the unending nightmares at Boeing made it stick to its trusted Airbus where it already has over 1,000 A320 family single aisles on order and is the largest operator of this best-seller globally. While Airbus dominates India’s single aisle market, troubled Boeing is no longer the sole wide body with Indian airlines as its European competitor has started getting orders for big birds too since last year, starting with AI.
