INDIGO'S STRATEGIC GAMBLE WITH LONG-HAUL LEAP

IndiGo's direct long haul into Europe will shake up the market as never before. It will impact rival Air India and the Middle Eastern carriers. But one has to wait to see if the strong 6E connections into Europe and westwards will indeed work.

- NIDHI SHARMA

IndiGo has made a bold and strategic move that will have far-reaching implications. The airline recently announced its first foray into long-haul operations, with plans to launch flights to Amsterdam and Manchester starting July 2025. While the airline has not officially confirmed the Indian airport for these routes, industry watchers suggest that Delhi, IndiGo's primary hub, will serve as the launchpad. The flights will operate three times a week, using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft leased from European long-haul low-cost airline, Norse Atlantic.

Earlier in the year, IndiGo secured a damp lease agreement with the airline for a Boeing 787-9, which commenced operations on March 1. The airline has now expanded this deal to include three more 787s, scheduled for delivery in late 2025. The already-acquired wide-body aircraft has commenced operations, initially serving the Delhi-Bangkok route. These leased wide-body jets will accelerate IndiGo's long-haul expansion into Europe, serving as a strategic bridge until its Airbus A321 XLR and A350-900 aircraft arrive starting in 2027. This serves as an answer to the question that many have been asking -- why is it that IndiGo is starting with long-haul flights when there are still two years to go before its new aircraft enters service? The airline is readying itself beforehand and maturing the routes where it feels will be a strategic start, and it can come full force with the right preparation and background work.

This move signals IndiGo's aggressive push into intercontinental travel while awaiting its next-generation fleet.

This is undoubtedly a milestone for IndiGo, which has built its reputation on dominating the domestic and short-haul international markets. However, the move also raises critical questions about its impact on Middle Eastern carriers, Air India, and the broader aviation landscape.