IndiGo leases 3 more large planes to fly longer routes, here’s the airline’s plan

Domestic carrier IndiGo announced on Wednesday that it will expand its current operational fleet by adding three Boeing 787-9 aircraft arriving from Norse Atlantic. The airline is inducting these planes as part of its plans to launch European operations by mid-summer this year.

Currently, IndiGo operates two Boeing 777 widebody aircraft on a wet lease from Turkish Airlines, flying from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul. Earlier this month, the airline revealed it had secured a deal to lease one Boeing 787 from Norse Atlantic Airways making it four 787-9 planes in its fleet. The first of these aircraft is on track for delivery and is expected to begin operations on IndiGo’s Delhi-Bangkok route starting March 1, 2025.

Read more: IndiGo to launch Delhi-Bangkok flights on Boeing 787-9, its first wide-body service

These planes are scheduled to arrive in India in the second half of 2025, where they will operate on long-haul routes from India. Under a damp lease arrangement, the lessor provides the aircraft and its maintenance, but the lessee is responsible for crew and insurance.

The damp lease agreement for these three aircraft is initially for six months, with the option to extend up to 18 months, subject to regulatory approvals. Both IndiGo and Norse Atlantic Airways have expressed their commitment to further extend this partnership and explore additional opportunities, including the potential for more leased aircraft.

Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, emphasised that the partnership with Norse Atlantic Airways will help the airline strengthen its position in the European market, marking a key step in IndiGo’s broader strategy to expand its international network. “We are steadily advancing toward our vision of becoming a global player by 2030, firmly rooted in India and driven by continuous expansion,” he said.

Read more: Indigo to rent at least 6 new large planes to add international flights

Once all four Boeing 787 aircraft are delivered, IndiGo’s fleet will include six widebody planes, comprising four Boeing 787s and two Boeing 777s. This will be part of the airline’s total fleet of 355 planes. The airline is likely to take two more 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic in the coming months.

In addition to its leasing agreements, IndiGo has placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with an option for an additional 70. Deliveries of these aircraft are expected to begin in 2027, further bolstering the airline’s global expansion strategy.