IndiGo to Launch Long-Haul A350s and Shift Mumbai Flights
IndiGo will introduce three-class Airbus A350 aircraft by 2028 and move 12 daily international flights to Navi Mumbai starting February 2027.
CEO Willie Walsh announced that IndiGo will expand its long-haul international operations with the induction of Airbus A350-900 aircraft starting in the second quarter of 2028. The first 10 aircraft will feature a three-class configuration, including 16 lie-flat business class seats, marking a departure from the airline's traditional no-frills model. To maintain airport slots until the A350s arrive, the airline continues A321XLR services to destinations including Amsterdam and Athens.
As part of a strategic shift, IndiGo will move 12 daily international departures—including flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Jakarta—from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport between February and July 2027. Walsh identified both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai as critical hubs for the airline's future growth.
Financial pressures persist as the airline reported a September quarter loss of approximately Rs 1,879 to 1,900 crore, driven by rupee depreciation and a 67 percent surge in fuel costs. While Walsh announced a comprehensive review of the airline's longstanding policy against fuel hedging to manage these risks, he stated there are no immediate plans to implement it since domestic competitors remain unhedged.
Walsh also called for a reduction in Indian airport charges and taxes, asserting that lower costs are essential for the airline to expand. He noted that operational challenges continue due to the closure of Pakistani airspace and instability in West Asia.
