IndiGo! (AvHistory #22)
From Delhi to the Sky: How IndiGo Became India's Largest Airline in Just Two Decades
Welcome back, valued readers and travelers!
It's time to cover one of the largest airlines in the world, the largest airline in India, and one of the world's most popular low-cost carriers (LCCs). Welcome to the story of IndiGo, one of the fastest-growing, largest, and most popular airlines in the aviation industry.
Overview
Some background is required for context. IndiGo is an Indian low-cost hybrid airline headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It is the largest airline in India by passengers carried, with a 64.2% domestic market share as of August 2025.
It is also the sixth-busiest airline in the world, according to data from the RadarBox analytical group. As of November 2025, IndiGo operates more than 2,700 daily flights to 137 destinations, including 94 domestic and 43 international destinations. It also operates cargo services through its subsidiary, IndiGo CarGo. Its primary hub is Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, which it shares with Air India, the nation's flag carrier—a carrier IndiGo has since surpassed in market share.
The airline was established as a private company in 2005. It took delivery of its first aircraft in July 2006 and commenced operations a month later, on August 4, 2006. IndiGo became India's largest airline by passenger market share in December 2012. The company went public in October 2015. In 2022, OAG, a leading UK-based aviation analytics company, ranked IndiGo as the world's 15th most punctual airline.
Brief History
IndiGo's growth has been remarkable over its first 21 years of operation. The airline was founded in 2005 by Rahul Bhatia, CEO of InterGlobe Enterprises, and Rakesh Gangwal, a U.S.-based Indian expatriate. InterGlobe held a 51.12% stake in IndiGo, while Gangwal's Virginia-based company, Caelum Investments, held 47.88%.
In June 2005, IndiGo placed a firm order for 100 Airbus A320-200 aircraft, with plans to begin operations in mid-2006. The airline took delivery of its first aircraft on July 28, 2006, nearly a year after placing the order. It commenced operations on August 4, 2006, with service from New Delhi to Imphal via Guwahati.
By the end of 2006, the airline had six aircraft, and nine more were added in 2007. Since Airbus typically requires eight to ten months to deliver aircraft, how IndiGo acquired its fleet so quickly remains something of a business-world mystery. In December 2011, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) expressed concerns that the airline's rapid expansion could affect passenger safety.
In February 2012, IndiGo took delivery of its 50th aircraft, less than six years after beginning operations. During the quarter ending in March 2012, it became India's most profitable airline and the country's second-largest carrier by passenger market share.
On August 17, 2012, IndiGo became India's largest airline by market share, surpassing Jet Airways just six years after launching operations. By December 2012, as it approached its seventh anniversary, the airline had transported 50 million passengers.
In January 2013, industry reports showed that IndiGo had become Asia's second-fastest-growing low-cost carrier, behind Indonesia's Lion Air. In February 2013, after India's Civil Aviation Ministry announced it would allow IndiGo to take delivery of only five aircraft that year, the airline proposed launching a low-cost regional subsidiary. It later sought approval to receive four additional aircraft, bringing the total to nine deliveries in 2013. That same month, IndiGo accepted delivery of its 75th aircraft.
By March 2014, IndiGo had become Asia's second-largest low-cost carrier by available seats.
In November 2014, IndiGo received its 100th aircraft, completing its original order placed in 2005. In March 2015, the airline surpassed the milestone of 100 million passengers.
Just a few months later, in August 2015, IndiGo placed an order for 250 Airbus A320neo aircraft valued at approximately $27 billion, making it the largest single aircraft order in Airbus history at the time.
On October 19, 2015, the airline announced a ₹30.18 billion (equivalent to ₹36 billion, or approximately US$370 million in 2023) initial public offering (IPO), which opened on October 27.
In October 2017, IndiGo announced plans to strengthen its regional network by adding service to new Tier II cities. It took delivery of its first ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft in November 2017 and began operating it the following month.
In October 2019, IndiGo placed another record-breaking order, purchasing 300 Airbus A320neo aircraft worth approximately ₹2,300 billion (US$24 billion), surpassing its own previous Airbus order.
In December 2019, IndiGo became the first Indian airline to operate 1,500 daily flights and maintain a fleet of more than 250 aircraft.
In 2020, the airline added ten domestic and eight international destinations. It also introduced 45 new aircraft, increasing its fleet to 262 aircraft while transporting more than 75 million passengers during the year.
In January 2023, IndiGo became the first Indian airline to operate a fleet of more than 300 aircraft. The following month, it introduced its first wide-body aircraft—a wet-leased Boeing 777-300ER.
In June 2023, the airline placed an order for 500 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, the largest aircraft order in commercial aviation history. By December 2023, IndiGo had become the first Indian airline to carry more than 100 million passengers in a single calendar year.
In April 2024, IndiGo ordered 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with options for an additional 70 aircraft, in a deal valued at approximately $5 billion. Deliveries are expected to begin in mid-2027.
In November 2024, the airline introduced a true business class product on select routes, marking a shift toward a more full-service offering.
Throughout 2024, the Airbus A320neo accounted for approximately 45% of all IndiGo flights. However, by late 2025, the larger A321neo had become the airline's dominant aircraft type. By early 2026, the A320neo represented just over one-third of flights, while the A321neo accounted for more than 40%. IndiGo now operates more than 160 A321neo aircraft, giving it the world's largest A321neo fleet.
Fleet
As of August 2025, IndiGo operates a fleet of 434 aircraft. Its fleet is primarily composed of Airbus aircraft, including the A320 family, along with ATR 72-600 turboprops. The airline also operates two Boeing 777s on wet lease from Turkish Airlines.
In March 2025, IndiGo began operating six wet-leased Boeing 787 Dreamliners from Norse Atlantic Airways. As of July 2026, however, the airline has announced the termination of that agreement and plans to purchase its own Boeing 787 Dreamliners instead of continuing the wet lease.
Cabin Classes
IndiGo primarily offers economy-class seating. In 2024, it introduced IndiGoStretch, a premium product featuring business-class-style seating on select routes and pre-announced flights.
Codeshare and Interline Agreements
IndiGo has only one interline agreement, with Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar. Its codeshare network, however, is considerably more extensive, with approximately 90% of the oneworld Alliance serving as codeshare partners.
Economy Class and Onboard Experience
IndiGo's economy-class product is relatively standard and comparable to that of many other low-cost and hybrid carriers. What truly distinguishes the airline are the benefits it offers, helping cement its status as India's airline of choice, even ahead of the nation's flag carrier, Air India.
These benefits include complimentary meals, advance seat selection, and zero convenience fees on eligible fares. Although IndiGo offers a buy-on-board meal program, hot meals are generally unavailable because the airline's aircraft are not equipped with ovens. As a result, cold meals remain the primary onboard food option.
To expand its menu, the airline also offers hot beverages, heated ready-to-eat meals, and instant meal options. IndiGo does not provide seatback in-flight entertainment in economy class. Instead, it publishes Hello 6E, one of the few remaining hard-copy in-flight magazines in an industry that has largely transitioned to digital publications.
For an additional fee, passengers can purchase premium services such as preferred seating, flexible cancellations, complimentary snacks, priority check-in, and increased baggage allowances.
One particularly unique feature is IndiGo's energetic boarding anthem, which plays during boarding to encourage passengers to find their seats quickly and help speed up the boarding process—a first among low-cost carriers. Given India's enormous population and consistently high passenger demand, it's easy to see why IndiGo's operating model has been so successful.
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