IndiGo

IndiGo
InterGlobe Aviation Limited, doing business as IndiGo, is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It is the largest airline in India by passengers carried and fleet size, with a 63.4% domestic market share as of July 2023. It is also the largest individual Asian low-cost carrier in terms of jet fleet size and passengers carried, and the largest carrier in Asia. It carried over 300+ million passengers . It operates 1,900 daily flights to 116 destinations – 83 domestic and 33 international. It has its primary hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.
The airline was founded as a private company by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal in 2006. It took delivery of its first aircraft in July 2006 and commenced operations a month later. The airline became the largest Indian carrier by passenger market share in 2012. The company went public in November 2015. Pieter Elbers is currently the company's chief executive officer.
IndiGo has been ranked as the 4th most punctual airline globally in 2018, 6th most punctual airline globally in 2019 and 3rd most punctual airline globally in 2021 by OAG Punctuality League. On 19 June 2023, IndiGo, placed a firm order for 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft, making this the largest purchase by any airline in history by number of aircraft and eclipsing Air India's order for 470 planes.
History
IndiGo was founded in 2006 as a private company by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal. InterGlobe had a 51.12% stake in IndiGo and 47.88% was held by Gangwal's Virginia-based company, Caelum Investments. IndiGo placed a firm order for 100 Airbus A320-200 aircraft in June 2005 with plans to begin operations in mid-2006. IndiGo took delivery of its first aircraft on 28 July 2006, nearly a year after placing the order. It commenced operations on 4 August 2006 with a service from New Delhi to Imphal via Guwahati. By the end of 2006, the airline had six aircraft, and nine more were acquired in 2007. In December 2010, IndiGo replaced state-run carrier Air India as the third largest airline in India, behind Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways with a passenger market share of 17.3%.
In 2011, IndiGo placed an order for 180 Airbus A320 aircraft in a deal worth US$15 billion. In January 2011, after completing five years of operations, the airline was permitted to launch international flights. In December 2011, the DGCA expressed reservations that the rapid expansion could impact passenger safety.
In February 2012, IndiGo took delivery of its 50th aircraft, less than six years after it began operations. For the quarter ending March 2012, IndiGo was the most profitable airline in India and became the second largest airline in India in terms of passenger market share. On 17 August 2012, IndiGo became the largest airline in India in terms of market share surpassing Jet Airways, six years after commencing operations.
In January 2013, IndiGo was the second-fastest-growing low-cost carrier in Asia behind Indonesian airline Lion Air. In February 2013, following the announcement of the Civil Aviation Ministry that it would allow IndiGo to take delivery of only five aircraft that year, the airline planned to introduce low-cost regional flights by setting up a subsidiary. Later, IndiGo announced that it planned to seek permission from the ministry to acquire four more aircraft, therefore taking delivery of nine aircraft in 2013. , IndiGo is the second-largest low-cost carrier in Asia in terms of seats flown.
In August 2015, IndiGo placed an order for 250 Airbus A320neo aircraft worth $27 billion, making it the largest single order ever in Airbus history. IndiGo announced a initial public offering on 19 October 2015 which opened on 27 October 2015.
In October 2019, IndiGo placed another order for 300 Airbus A320neo aircraft worth , surpassing its own record of the largest single order ever in Airbus history.
In December 2019, the airline became the first Indian airline to operate 1,500 daily flights. On 31 December 2019, it became India's first airline to have a fleet size of more than 250 aircraft.
In January 2023, the airline became the first Indian airline to have a fleet size of more than 300 aircraft.
In February 2023, the airline inducted the Boeing 777-300ER to their fleet after acquiring one aircraft on a wet lease agreement from Turkish Airlines, which will initially last for a year. A second aircraft in full IndiGo livery was put into service in the coming months. This is the first widebody aircraft to be operated by the airline, and the third airline in India to operate widebody aircraft, after Air India and Vistara, while also offering its first business class seats.
In June 2023, during the 2023 Paris Air Show, the airline placed an order for 500 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, making it the largest aircraft order in commercial aviation history.
In September 2023, IndiGo, announced the inclusion of San Francisco in its US network through a codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines. This arrangement facilitates flights to the US West Coast city with a stopover in Istanbul. In addition to the US cities, their codeshare agreement encompasses over 30 destinations in Europe, which encompass cities such as London, Paris, Venice, Athens, Budapest, Rome, among others.
In 2022 IndiGo had a domestic market share of 55%. The airline was also the market leader in the international traffic of India with a market share of 15%. The CEO stated that he wants to increase the latter.
Corporate affairs
Ownership and structure
Interglobe Aviation Limited is publicly traded under NSE: INDIGO, with a market capitalisation of about ₹23,36,214.94 lakhs, .
Headquarters
IndiGo is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, India.
Business trends
The key trends for IndiGo over recent years are (as of the financial year ending 31 March):
Destinations
, IndiGo operates more than 1,900 daily flights to 116 destinations, 83 in India and 33 abroad, with around 174 new weekly international flights added between June and October 2023. Its main base is located at Delhi, with additional bases at Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Kochi, In January 2011, IndiGo received a license to operate international flights after completing five years of operations. IndiGo's first international service was launched between New Delhi and Dubai on 1 September 2011.
Codeshare agreements
IndiGo codeshares with the following airlines:
Air France
American Airlines
British Airways
KLM
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Turkish Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
Fleet
, IndiGo operates the following aircraft:
Fleet developments
IndiGo placed an order for 100 Airbus A320-200 aircraft worth US$6 billion in June 2005 during the Paris Air Show with plans to commence operations in mid-2006. The airline received its first A320 in July 2006 and planned to induct 100 aircraft by 2015–2016. IndiGo signed a memorandum of understanding for an additional 180 Airbus A320 aircraft including 150 with the New Engine Option (NEO) worth US$15 billion on 11 January 2011. In 2012, the airline took delivery of its 50th aircraft and the 100th aircraft was delivered on 4 November 2014, completing its initial order ahead of schedule.
The Airbus A320neo family aircraft ordered in 2011 were to be delivered starting 2015. However, due to a delay in the production and delivery of these aircraft, IndiGo dry-leased a total of 22 used aircraft to cope with the demand. On 15 October 2014, IndiGo expressed its intention to order a further 250 A320neo aircraft worth US$25.7 billion at list prices. On 15 August 2015, IndiGo confirmed the order for 250 A320neo aircraft for $26.5 billion. The order also provides IndiGo the flexibility to convert some A320neos to A321neoLRs that can seat more passengers and fly on longer routes. The order for 250 jets was Airbus' single largest order by number of aircraft. IndiGo received the first A320neo in March 2016. On 10 October 2019, Airbus delivered its 1000th A320neo aircraft to IndiGo. On 29 October 2019, IndiGo placed a firm order for 300 A320neo Family aircraft comprising a mix of 87 A320neo, 144 A321neo and 69 A321XLR, taking IndiGo's total number of A320neo Family aircraft orders to 730.
IndiGo took delivery of its first ATR 72–600 in November 2017.
In May 2023, IndiGo inducted a 400 seater Boeing 777-300ER in the IndiGo livery. The aircraft flew from Istanbul to Delhi on 28 May 2023; through its codesharing agreement with Turkish Airlines.
In June 2023, during the 2023 Paris Air Show, the airline placed an order for 500 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. This is the largest aircraft order in commercial aviation history. Announced during the inaugural day of the Paris Airshow, the agreement holds an approximate value of $55 billion, excluding potential bulk-order concessions. This substantial deal will enable IndiGo to enhance its operational efficiency and reduce fuel expenses through the incorporation of new aircraft, as stated by the company. The deliveries will take place from 2030 to 2035.
Services
Being a low-cost carrier, IndiGo offers only economy class seating. To keep fares low, IndiGo does not provide complimentary meals on any of its flights, though it does have a buy-on-board in-flight meal programme. No in-flight entertainment is available. Hello 6E, the in-flight magazine published by IndiGo, is available for passengers to read. IndiGo offers premium services, such as a pre-assigned seat, multiple cancellations and priority check-in, to passengers who are willing to pay a higher fare. In September 2019, the company announced its tie up with SonyLIV, an on demand video app for providing its passengers with entertainment options in-flight and at the airport.
See also
List of airports in India
Aviation in India
List of companies of India
Transport in India
References
External links
Airlines of India
Airlines established in 2006
Companies based in Gurgaon
Low-cost carriers
Indian brands
Indian companies established in 2006
2006 establishments in Haryana
Companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India
Companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange