IndiGo To Decide on Next Aircraft Order in 2030 After Assessing New-Generation Planes: Rahul Bhatia

New Delhi: India’s largest airline IndiGo will decide on its next aircraft order in 2030 after assessing the development of next-generation aircraft, as it aims to be an early adopter of new technology, Managing Director Rahul Bhatia said.

The airline, which completes 20 years of operations next month, has grown from launching services with a single aircraft type in 2006 to operating more than 440 aircraft and serving over 140 destinations. It has more than 900 aircraft, including Airbus A350-900s, on order, with deliveries scheduled through 2035.

“The reason we have taken a pause right now is because we want to see what happens with the next generation aircraft. Who will launch it and when? Whenever that new technology comes along, I think it will be our next bite of the cherry and decide the future of this company beyond the current generation aircraft,” Bhatia told PTI in an interview.

Next-generation aircraft generally refer to planes incorporating advanced technologies and lower emissions.

IndiGo has doubled its order for the A350-900 aircraft to 60 and also holds options to purchase 40 more. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2028 as the airline expands into long-haul international operations.

The airline, which has a domestic market share of more than 66 per cent, currently operates a fleet of A320 family aircraft, ATR turboprops and five Boeing 787 Dreamliners leased from Norway’s Norse Atlantic.

“We will see how things evolve over the next few years. My own view is we are pretty well set till 2035,” Bhatia said when asked about future aircraft orders.

Also a co-founder of IndiGo, Bhatia said lower costs and sustainability would remain central to the airline’s fleet strategy.

“We want to be the early entrance as new technology comes along. We want to embrace that, improve our cost structure and be a more environmentally friendly airline.” He said a decision on future orders could come in the early 2030s.

“We have options for 40 A350s which we can convert.. it will depend on how things evolve over a period of time… between now and when the new generation aircraft comes into service. Should we feel there is a need for a top-up order, we will do that,” Bhatia said.

In FY2026, IndiGo allocated USD 820 million toward aircraft purchases through its GIFT City entity.

Bhatia said access to new technology would be a key factor in determining the airline’s next round of aircraft purchases.

“… what you don’t want to do is as new technology comes along, you don’t want to be saddled with a lot of older generation aircraft,” he said.

As part of its strategy to reduce costs and increase flexibility, IndiGo is shifting from operating leases to finance leases for new aircraft.

Bhatia said moving away from operating leases to finance leases fundamentally lowers the airline’s cost structure while providing greater flexibility.

“(For) planes that you finance should you at any moment in the future decide you want to convert them into operating leases you can. But you can’t do it the other way around. It just provides you optionality. And optionality in our business is critical,” he said.

IndiGo is among the few airlines globally that have not been significantly affected by aircraft delivery delays caused by supply chain disruptions, supporting its rapid expansion in both domestic and international markets.

The airline carried more than 123 million passengers in FY26 and has served over 880 million customers since inception. It currently operates more than 2,200 daily flights and plans to increase international capacity as it prepares to induct A321XLR aircraft and A350s into its fleet over the coming years.

In its 2025-26 annual report, the airline said ongoing supply chain constraints affecting aircraft production, engine availability, maintenance cycles and component sourcing have put pressure on airlines’ expansion plans globally.

(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by HDFC Sky editorial team and is auto-generated from PTI feed.)