IndiGo orders nearly 500 aircraft, partners with Turkish airlines for Europe expansion

Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo has partnered with Turkish Airlines in a bid to expand its European reach. The airline also placed orders for around 500 new aircraft as part of its expansion plan. IndiGo has ordered planes from both Airbus and Boeing. The move comes shortly after Air India ordered 840 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, with 470 firm planes and 370 options. IndiGo's current international flights are concentrated around the Indian subcontinent and a few other countries, but the partnership with Turkish Airlines will allow it to reach new destinations.

"We are currently flying 1,800 flights a day, and 10% of them are on international routes. Our current international flights are concentrated around the Indian sub-continent and some other countries. The farthest we travel is to Turkey and Istanbul. We have been very keen to fly further, and that's why a partnership with Turkish Airlines. This is a codeshare partnership, which allows us to penetrate Europe like never before," said Vinay Malhotra, head of international sales at IndiGo.

As Indian people get passports, the first thing they want to do is fly overseas. There is huge potential for travelers who are aspiring to travel within India or overseas. Therefore, the right timing has presented itself for IndiGo to take people beyond the borders of India. "Competition is always welcomed,” Malhotra said, referring to Air India's recent acquisition of 470 planes. "We offer the best connectivity to Europe and IndiGo assures people of hassle-free in carrier service, on-time performance, and affordable fares."

IndiGo plans to launch two new points in the near future: Nairobi in Kenya and Jakarta in Indonesia. "The expansion depends a lot on the frequency and the timing of when we get an aircraft. However, as and when the aircraft is coming, some will be deployed in the domestic market and some overseas,” Malhotra added.

The airline's current fleet consists of Airbus A320 and A321neo aircraft. The new planes will help the airline meet the increasing demand for air travel and expand its operations to new destinations. IndiGo is India's largest airline by market share, with a fleet of over 270 aircraft and a market share of approximately 60%.