IndiGo airlines will be importing 400 additional aircrafts over the next 10 years, following the approval it received from the government for importing the aircrafts. On an average, IndiGo will be importing one aircraft every week for the next 10 years, thus becoming one of the fastest and the largest fleet expansion program for any scheduled airline in India’s civil aviation history.
A senior official in the Ministry of Civil Aviation said, “IndiGo had applied for permission to import 400 additional aircraft in December last year. The same has been granted to them. They have been given in-principle approval to import these aircraft over the next 10 years till 2025.”
IndiGo has been quite keen on buying new aircrafts and expanding right from its inception in 2006, when it started inducting one aircraft every month.
It’s not the first time that IndiGo has placed such a huge order. Last year, in October, IndiGo signed an agreement to buy 250 A320 Neo planes. The company did not disclose the amount. However, going by the list price, it is reported to be $25.7 billion.
IndiGo had made two colossal orders for Airbus aircraft — for 100 A320s in 2005 and 180 planes (150 A320neos and 30 A320s) in 2011. This was switched later to 180 A320neos. Airbus has said the A320neos, with their new engines and enlarged wing-tip devices, justifies that it saves 15 percent of fuels from Day one.
“According to reports, the airline is looking at raising $ 400-450 million from an IPO, which will be managed by six investments banks. The red herring prospectus for the planned debut on the stock exchange is likely to be filed by May this year,” mentioned the Indian Express.
IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh had said the deliveries under the new order would begin from 2018 and overlap with those under the 2011 one.
Tags: Aditya Ghosh IndiGo IndiGo airlines
