IndiGo signs contract with Airbus to confirm its order for 30 additional A350-900 aircraft

The carrier has signed a contract with the European aircraft manufacturer to convert 30 purchase rights of the Airbus A350-900 into firm orders. The move will effectively double its wide-body order to 60 aircraft, the company said Friday.

Deliveries are expected from 2027 as the airline plans to expand its presence on international routes. Overall, IndiGo’s current fleet consists of more than 400 aircraft.

IndiGo and Airbus had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for these additional 30 aircraft in early June 2025.

Additionally, IndiGo has signed a deal with Rolls-Royce to power its upcoming A350 fleet with Trent XWB-84 engines.

“IndiGo has doubled its wide-body order from 30 to 60 Airbus A350-900 aircraft,” the Gurgaon-based carrier said in a statement.

The carrier made its first wide-body purchase by placing its first order of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft in April 2024. The airline also retained the purchasing rights for another 70 aircraft in the Airbus A350 family for future needs. 30 of these are currently in use. IndiGo will be given the right to purchase 40 more wide-body aircraft.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said the acquisitions were aimed at expanding its international footprint.

Within the scope of international route expansion plans; IndiGo recently launched services to Manchester and Amsterdam, followed by flights to Copenhagen, London and Athens with its fleet of temporarily leased Boeing 787-9 and soon Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

long term growth

IndiGo is also strengthening its network across Asia. The arrival of the Airbus A350 aircraft will further expand its capabilities and open new routes to the Americas and other long-haul destinations.

“The conversion of this MoU into a firm order for an additional 30 A350-900s is a testament to our confidence in the future of Indian aviation. These aircraft joining our fleet in the coming years will play a pivotal role in enabling IndiGo to expand its reach, connecting India to more destinations around the world and offering new international travel opportunities,” Elbers said.

The A350-900 aircraft (wide body) will be powered by Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engine, known for its fuel efficiency.

In June 2023, IndiGo had also announced a firm order for 500 Airbus A320 aircraft. This will give the airline a more stable flow of deliveries between 2030 and 2035. This order for 500 aircraft was IndiGo’s largest order and also the largest single aircraft purchase ever by any airline with Airbus.

Shares of IndiGo’s parent company Interglobe Aviation closed in February: ₹It fell 0.5% to 5,848.40 on the BSE on Friday. The announcement came after Sunday time.

Demand for international travel is increasing

Of course, India is the world’s third largest aviation market today, reflecting the country’s rapid economic growth, rising disposable income and expanding middle class.

Passenger traffic has increased in recent years due to increased domestic connections, the proliferation of low-cost carriers and the growing popularity of air travel among first-time flyers.

The government’s focus on improving airport infrastructure and modernizing major airports through initiatives such as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) has further improved accessibility and efficiency. With its young and tech-savvy population and increasing business travel, India’s aviation sector is expected to sustain strong growth, positioning it as a major engine of economic activity and international connectivity over the next decade.

IndiGo’s acquisition of the new wide-body aircraft comes at a time when India is expanding its international airport network to increase connectivity and meet growing demand for overseas travel.

Notable projects include Noida International Airport (Jewar), Navi Mumbai International Airport and Amravati Airport in Maharashtra. Some new airports aiming to improve regional access are also under construction.