IndiGo To Induct Its First Medium-Haul Airbus A321neo This Week; Istanbul, London Among Planned Destinations

Low-cost Indigo airlines is all set to induct its first long-range jet, Airbus A321neo (New Engine Optimisation) into its fleet on Saturday (29 December), Mint reports.

According to the report, the induction, which has been delayed by a month, will pave the way for the budget carrier to launch its much-awaited medium-haul flights to various international destinations.

“IndiGo’s first A321neo plane, which was to join the fleet late last month, will now be finally inducted on 29 December,” an airline source was quoted as saying. Medium-haul flights generally have a flight time of about six hours.

Indigo, currently, India’s largest domestic carrier by market share has a fleet of 200-odd planes, which includes short-range A230neo’s, A320’s and ATR Jets. Recently, Indigo announced plans to add a new destination in Istanbul.

They also signed a code-share packed with the Turkish Airlines to ensure seamless connectivity to 20 destinations around the world from Istanbul. The deal, in turn, gives passengers of the Turkish National carrier access to destinations operated within India by Indigo.

The arrival of A321neo will be a first of the of 150 such aircraft ordered by IndiGo from aviation manufacturer Airbus.

As part of their international expansion plan, Indigo, other than Istanbul, also has reportedly planned to launch flights to Gatwick (London), Yangon (Myanmar) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).

Currently, the budget carrier operates more than 1,300 flights to 15 international and 52 domestic destinations daily.