IndiGo’s incoming CEO flags gap in India’s long-haul capacity, calls wide body jet shortage a ‘scandal’- Report

IndiGo’s new chief executive officer (CEO) Willie Walsh has pointed out a huge gap in the long-haul capacity of India’s aviation market. According to the BBC, Walsh described India’s current fleet of 50 wide-body jets as a “scandal”.

Wide-body aircraft are designed to carry passengers longer distances; making them vital for international and long-haul routes.

‘When you think about it…’

Speaking about the Indian aviation sector, Walsh highlighted the strong growth and improved connectivity, calling it “fascinating to watch in recent years”.

However, he underlined the problem with wide-body jets.

“When you think about it, the population of this country is 1.4 billion and growing. But last year they only had 50 wide-body aircraft in the country. So this could probably be described as a scandal,” the IndiGo CEO candidate said, as quoted by the BBC.

“They need to be much bigger than that. And I think they will be much bigger than that in the future,” he said.

Earlier this year, aircraft leasing company Avolon said it expected the wide-body jet shortage to continue into the 2030s. Reuters – with reference to the company’s annual outlook report.

Avolon’s report on wide-body aircraft

Avolon is one of three Irish charter companies that own and lease approximately one-sixth of the world’s passenger aircraft.

“We anticipate the narrowbody market will be undersupplied by the end of the decade, well into the 2030s, and perhaps longer for the widebody market,” said Avolon Chief Risk Officer Jim Morrison. Reuters‘ report was published in January 2026.

Apart from the wide-body jet shortage, Willie Walsh told the BBC that Indian airlines have a huge opportunity to expand their global presence.

He noted that India has long relied on hubs in the Gulf to connect passengers, especially on routes to North America, and said this offers a significant opportunity for domestic carriers to establish more direct, long-haul networks and strengthen their global footprint.

“India was dependent on transiting people through Gulf hubs, particularly to North America,” said Walsh. “So this is a huge opportunity for Indian carriers to grow their presence globally.”

Walsh is currently chief executive of the International Air Transport Association.

He will replace Pieter Elbers, who resigned as IndiGo’s CEO on March 10 due to personal reasons.

But Elbers’ exit was reportedly largely linked to a recent operational crisis that led to thousands of flight cancellations, the biggest disruption in the airline’s 20-year history.