India’s Historic Order: 500 Flights, Biggest-Ever Deal

Airbus has secured a historic deal with Indian budget carrier IndiGo for the purchase of 500 narrowbody jets, marking the largest plane deal in history.

This order surpasses Air India’s recent provisional purchase of 470 aircraft, reflecting the expansion plans of India’s major carriers to meet the growing demand for regional travel.

The CEO of IndiGo, Pieter Elbers, stated that the timing is ideal due to India’s growth and the increasing aviation market. The delivery of these planes is scheduled between 2030 and 2035. Indian carriers, striving to keep up with the rapidly growing aviation market, have set new industry records, even as manufacturers struggle to meet production targets.

With over a 6% share of the global industry backlog, Indian carriers now possess the second-largest order book, following the United States. IndiGo, commanding approximately 60% of the domestic market in India, is expected to maintain Airbus as its supplier for single-aisle jets to leverage economies of scale.