The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted approval to Vistara and IndiGo to commence new international flights starting from August. According to a senior official, Vistara requested permission from the regulator to establish flight services from New Delhi to Bali, Indonesia, while IndiGo proposed to launch air connectivity between New Delhi and Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.
“IndiGo operations on the Delhi-Tbilisi route will commence on August 7, and Vistara operations on the Delhi-Bali route will commence on August 1,” he said. Vistara is currently in the process of merging with Air India, which is now under the ownership of Tata Group. In February of this year, IndiGo announced its plans to expand its air services to Kenya and Indonesia.
IndiGo’s Purchase of 500 Airbus Planes
Meanwhile, IndiGo has placed an order for 500 narrow-body planes from Airbus. This is the largest-ever aircraft order placed by an airline with Airbus. Financial details of the order have not been disclosed. Earlier this year, Tata Group-owned Air India also placed orders for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing.
Currently, IndiGo operates over 300 aircraft and has previous orders for 480 aircraft that are yet to be delivered. The company has stated, “This will provide the airline with a steady stream of deliveries between 2030 and 2035. This 500 aircraft order is not only IndiGo’s largest order but also the largest-ever single aircraft purchase by an airline from Airbus.”
The aircraft purchase agreement was signed between the airline and Airbus at the Paris Air Show 2023. This order will provide IndiGo with a continuous flow of deliveries between 2030 and 2035, as stated by the Gurugram-based airline.
Air India’s Order for 470 Planes
In February, Tata Group-owned Air India placed a firm order for 470 planes from Airbus and Boeing. Out of these, 250 will be supplied by Airbus and 220 by Boeing, with the option to purchase an additional 370 planes from the two manufacturers. The firm order includes 70 wide-body aircraft.
Earlier this month, Vinay Dube, CEO of Akasa Air, announced that the airline will be placing a “triple-digit order” for narrow-body planes. The airline, which began operations in August last year, currently has 19 aircraft in its fleet, with the 20th aircraft to join in July.
1,100 Aircraft to be Delivered in the Coming Years
Indian airlines have placed orders for more than 1,100 aircraft to be delivered in the coming years. IndiGo is set to receive around 500 planes, Go First will receive 72 aircraft, Akasa Air will receive 56 planes, and Vistara will receive 17 aircraft. Additionally, SpiceJet also has aircraft on order. All of these orders are for narrow-body planes.
Together with IndiGo’s latest order, domestic carriers now have a total of over 1,600 planes on order. Go First, which is facing a crisis, has been grounded since May 3. Approximately 700 commercial aircraft are currently flying in India, with the majority being narrow-body planes.
(With PTI inputs)
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Omprakash Tiwary is a business writer who delves into the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and economic landscape. He offers readers valuable insights into market trends, entrepreneurship, and economic developments.
