IndiGo is continuing to focus on international expansion this week. The carrier has doubled its order with Airbus, converting 30 of its purchase rights to bring its firm orders to 60 A350-900 aircraft. The carrier just signed an MOU with Airbus at the IATA annual general meeting in Delhi, with deliveries from its first tranche of aircraft to begin in 2027.
New aircraft to fuel the international expansion
As IndiGo continues its growth strategy, we would expect the remaining 40 purchase rights for A350 aircraft to be executed in the next few years. With long-haul flights, IndiGo is expanding its product to include business class, and adding new destinations at a rapid pace.
Peter Elbers, IndiGo’s CEO, outlined the evolution of the carrier from a domestic LCC to a global giant, with strategic partnerships, investment in infrastructure, and a commitment to sustainability. As the fastest growing air travel market in the world, IndiGo is leading the way in India, and now seeks international expansion.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Chief Commercial Officer, Airbus, joined Elbers on stage. “IndiGo has ordered over 1,400 aircraft with us. That scale is unprecedented,” said Saint-Exupéry. “It’s not just a business relationship — it’s a shared journey.”
Indigo is expanding its domestic network from 91 to 95 cities in 2025, and will expand its international network from 41 to more than 50 cities, including Amsterdam, Manchester, Athens, Copenhagen, and London in Europe. “That is just the beginning” said Elbers. “Today 90% of India’s population lives within 100 kilometers of an IndiGo-served airport. Soon, we want to ensure that 90% of the world is within reach of our wings.”  That is an aggressive international expansion.
IndiGo Partnerships are Key Elements to Growth
IndiGo has also inked code-share partnerships with AirFrance KLM, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic. These partnerships will be key to growth in both European and US markets as IndiGo expands its operations and connecting flight reach. As the SkyTeam alliance has no current Indian carrier affiliate, and alliance relationships often begin with code-sharing arrangement, could this portend a closer affiliation in the future as IndiGo steps out internationally?
Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said: “IndiGo has embarked on an ambitious journey to become a global airline by 2030. This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence and innovation. This announcement not only expands our relationship with Air France–KLM and Virgin Atlantic but also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we welcome Delta Airlines as a valued partner. We are particularly excited to start our long-haul expansion from this Summer and connect with our partners’ networks to provide greater access to Europe and North America. This strategic partnership enables a compelling combined customer proposition in the form of comprehensive intercontinental connectivity, seamless experience and great loyalty value. It also lays the groundwork for us to exchange best practices in areas of technology, operational excellence and service delivery.”
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said: “This agreement is another example of our commitment to making travel more connected, more inclusive and more accessible. Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe. We look forward to restarting Delta’s direct service from the U.S. to India in the near future.”
Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, said: “We are very glad to extend our existing partnership with IndiGo and to do so alongside our partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic. India is a strategic market for Air France-KLM, where we have a strong and historic presence soon to increase. We look forward to welcoming IndiGo customers on our flights and to play an active role in the country’s connectivity.”
Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “In our 25th year of flying to India, we’re delighted to build on our Joint Venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, and our successful codeshare with IndiGo, by going further with this partnership. As IndiGo starts long haul operations, we’ll connect four of the world’s largest economies, enhancing the travel experience for our guests, from greater connectivity and optimized flight times to loyalty benefits.”
The Bottom Line
The carrier has been on the fast track of growth since its founding about 20 years ago, and is currently the largest Indian airline and ninth largest in the world, all in a short period of time. It has a fleet of more than 400 aircraft and has 900 plus firm orders with Airbus for future growth, as the carrier plans to more than double, focusing on international expansion as a strategic element of that growth.
It is at the heart of the fastest growing market in the world, and is attracting world class partners as it expands its brand outside of India. The question is not whether the Indian market will support future growth, but which carriers will capture that growth. IndiGo is positioning itself for that fight with a modern fleet and world-class partners.
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