29.11.2023 - 04:16 UTC
IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi International) may venture away from its low-cost carrier roots and start installing business-class cabins in some of its A321neo aircraft. The Economic Times has reported that the airline plans to put 16 such seats into each of 35 aircraft by the end of 2024.
“Four rows of extra-legroom seating will be installed in those aircraft, providing 36 inches of legroom for guests to stretch out or work comfortably," a source told the outlet.
If correct, the move would be a departure from IndiGo's successful operating model, which has seen it become India's biggest airline. However, the newspaper also suggested that the move could be a response to the overhaul of Air India and a broader trend towards more premium travel in India.
“The airline believes that there is a section of high-end leisure travellers and small business owners looking for a business-class product at fares lower than those charged by legacy airlines," the source claimed.
IndiGo did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.
According to ch-aviation...
29.11.2023 - 03:25 UTC
The CEO of Air India (AI, Mumbai International) has called on the Indian government to continue carefully managing any additional capacity rights it allocates to foreign carriers, arguing that local airlines need the chance to grow first and become more effective competitors.
“I think the strategy is to contain traffic rights expansion so that local airlines have the opportunity to spin up and attain scale and become competitive," Campbell Wilson told the Hindustan Times, adding that traffic liberalisation can and should happen after this occurs.
"A balance that has to be struck, allowing the market to grow but also incubate your local market because that's fundamentally the most beneficial thing you can do for the economy," he said. "The idea is to support Indian aviation. I think it's the right thing to do for the development of Indian aviation, and also Indian business and international connectivity."
Multiple foreign operators are seeking new or additional traffic rights in and out of India. However, the Indian government has declined to grant them, being keen to shore up...
09.11.2023 - 02:45 UTC
IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi International) has released further details of the impact of the Pratt & Whitney powder metal issue on its fleet. The low-cost carrier says it has received additional information from the engine manufacturer, and they anticipate having around 35 aircraft on the ground during the first quarter of 2024.
"During our recent Q2 earnings call, IndiGo had already indicated a likely increase in the number of engine removals in the January - March quarter leading to a higher number of groundings in light of this powder metal issue," reads a November 7, 2023, statement issued by the airline. "These groundings will be incremental to the current aircraft on ground."
IndiGo operates 178 A320-200Ns and ninety-four A321-200NX. According to ch-aviation fleets advanced data, it currently has thirty-four A320-200Ns and eleven A321-200NX out-of-service, although the reasons for this vary. The airline is betting big on the Airbus neo narrowbodies, with another 954 of the type on order.
"Going forward, we continue to work with Pratt & Whitney on...
25.10.2023 - 05:58 UTC
Akasa Air (QP, Mumbai International) does not expect to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) before 2027, with the carrier’s chief executive Vinay Dube telling the Press Trust of India news agency on October 22 that a listing on stock exchanges by the end of the decade is “a much more realistic goal”.
“I don’t think 2027 will be possible for a listing, but a listing is something we definitely want to do,” he said. “We may have to gather a little more history before we can list. Certainly, a listing or an IPO is something that we would desire.”
Earlier this year, Dube told ch-aviation in an interview that the airline was not looking at financing measures such as a share issue or bank loans, while an IPO will eventually take place “for sure, but that’s a long ways away, we have to create a track record first.”
Currently, just two scheduled carriers in India are listed, IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi International) and SpiceJet (SG, Delhi International). Earlier...
