IndiGo preparing for launch of operations to Western Europe

IndiGo has been a surprise story over the past couple of years as it breaks away from the mould that observers have cast it, investors and everyone else. The airline has a significant focus on international expansion, and to this effect, it ordered the Airbus A350 last year, already has the Airbus A321XLR on order (of which they are the largest customer, of sorts), and now is working on launching operations to Western Europe.

IndiGo’s wet lease of 6 Norse Atlantic Airways’ 787 Aircraft

Over the Christmas—New Year break, it emerged that IndiGo will not wait until 2027 but will move in earlier to launch operations into Western Europe.

Norse Atlantic Airways’ 787-9 aircraft

It now looks like IndiGo will close a deal to wet lease six Boeing 787-9 aircraft aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways. With the wet lease agreement, Norse Atlantic would provide the planes and the cockpit crew, while IndiGo would market and sell the flights.

In November 2024, Norse Atlantic reported to its investors that the airline had tentatively finalised a deal to lease out six of its 787-9 jets, without naming the customer. Here is the announcement,

On 22 November 2024, the Company entered a detailed letter of intent (the “LOI”) with a reputable international airline for wet lease agreements (“wet lease”) for six aircraft, subject to final agreements, mutual corporate approvals and regulatory approvals. The initial contract term could be further extended, subject to regulatory approval, to cover a longer-term period, with an estimated contract value of USD 462 million over that extended term. Pursuant to the LOI, and provided final agreements are executed based on the terms therein, two aircraft are expected to be deployed in February 2025, with an additional four aircraft expected in September 2025. Norse will be entitled to payment for 350 block hours per aircraft each month, with additional payments possible if utilization exceeds 350 hours per month.

Norse Atlantic’s Boeing 787-9s are configured with 338 seats, including 56 premium and 282 economy seats. While Norse Atlantic did not name IndiGo, that could be because the terms were at the LOI stage and not an agreement.

Until recently, India did not allow extended wet lease arrangements with foreign airlines; however, during the quiet period at the end of the year, regulations were eased to allow wet leasing for up to 18 months instead of the earlier six months. After this, The Economic Times reported that IndiGo could be the customer for these aircraft.

IndiGo reportedly planned to launch long-haul flights to destinations like London and Paris, which might still not be operational with the early A321XLRs.

IndiGo is also trying to move up its slots from Airbus for the delivery of the A350-900 aircraft on order.

IndiGo is now recruiting Station Managers for London, Amsterdam and Paris.

Today, the Economic Times reported that IndiGo has opened the roles of station managers and chief security officers for stations to be established in London, Heathrow, Amsterdam, and Paris to internal candidates. This is an interesting move for the airline, as it solidifies the earlier moves, such as the Wet Lease Deals being sewn up. While it is not an easy task to get slots at some of these airports, one must not forget that Paris and Amsterdam could work with the new CEO of the airline, who comes from the KLM/Air France Group, to provide Slots. Six Planes and three stations work up perfectly.

What does not fit in in this scheme of things is IndiGo’s recent slot allocation to operate flights to Manchester. Over the past week, IndiGo has also received slots to operate a daily flight between Delhi and Manchester. The route was filed to be operated with a Boeing 787-9, and the intended start date of the flight is July 1, 2025. Flight 6E31 is intended to arrive in Manchester at 07:55 am GMT. The return flight, 6E32, will depart from Manchester at 10:55 am GMT.

IndiGo might launch for Manchester while it works to get slots at London Heathrow, where it intends to go, rather than one of the other London airports.

This is a great move, as IndiGo will be able to start getting slots and bilateral allocations. Hence, open routes rather than wait for their A350 to arrive and not lose out on the Indian side’s allocations to Air India.

Bottomline

IndiGo is getting ready to get across Europe and land in London, Paris, and Amsterdam with six 787-9 aircraft, for which it has purportedly already sewn up a deal. The airline is now recruiting for the station head roles and will start building a team or hiring a ground handling agency to help them with tasks after the first station heads are appointed.

What do you make of IndiGo’s plans to accelerate its arrival in Western Europe?

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