- IndiGo considers regional aircraft order amid Delhi hub plan
- Negotiations with Embraer and ATR
- Potential order for up to 100 regional airframes
- Strategy aims to transform Delhi into global mega-hub
- IndiGo has firm order for 60 Airbus A350-900s
IndiGo is currently in early-stage negotiations with aircraft manufacturers Embraer and ATR to secure a major new order of regional aircraft. The prospective deal is central to a broader strategic push led by the airline’s newly appointed CEO Willie Walsh to transform New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport into a dominant global mega-hub designed to directly challenge Middle Eastern aviation gateways. The negotiations follow initial industry reports of a procurement plan of up to 100 regional airframes.
The airline is looking at Embraer E2 jets or next-generation ATR models to either reinforce or entirely phase out its existing fleet of over 40 ATR 72 turboprops. Moving toward Embraer’s larger regional jets would mark a significant operational pivot for IndiGo which has historically relied almost exclusively on Airbus narrowbodies and ATR turboprops. IndiGo plans to use these new regional aircraft to capture passenger traffic from Tier-2 and Tier-3 Indian cities and funnel them directly into Delhi.
This domestic network infrastructure will serve as a vital feeder system for IndiGo’s rapidly expanding international widebody network which includes a firm order of 60 long-range Airbus A350-900 jetliners slated for delivery starting in 2027. While no binding contracts or fixed quantities have been finalised Willie Walsh has stated that locking down the regional strategy is an immediate priority for consolidating India’s domestic traffic before the carrier’s widebodies arrive.
