Airbus and Boeing are reportedly engaged in a race to woo India’s largest airline, IndiGo, for a widebody order. The low-cost carrier is already said to be finalizing a large single-aisle aircraft order with Airbus and will also order a widebody fleet for the primary time in its history.
Airbus A330 vs Boeing 787
Airbus and Boeing are competing to bag a widebody order from IndiGo, with people conversant in the matter saying that the carrier will make a alternative between the Airbus A330 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. A report by Mint quotes a source as saying,
Photo: Boeing
One other source added that IndiGo was also considering the Airbus A350, given the convenience of coaching A320 pilots for its operations. But for some reason, the plane was dropped from consideration. The A330, as a substitute, is now the frontrunner from the Airbus team, with the manufacturer hoping to keep up its presence throughout the airline for its widebody fleet as well.
Interestingly, these developments come very near the Paris Air Show that begins on June nineteenth. But each Airbus and Boeing haven’t made any official remarks regarding any such potential order from IndiGo.
Photo: Airbus
Long-haul ambitions
IndiGo’s business strategy regarding its fleet structure has modified in comparison with what it was just a few years ago. The airline’s robust domestic network and short-to-medium-haul international network are served comfortably with its narrowbody fleet.
Nevertheless it’s keen on expanding its international network map, including long-haul destinations in Europe and East Asia that might be reliably served with larger planes. Its partnership with Turkish Airlines has moved beyond just an everyday codesharing deal, with Turkish wet leasing Boeing 777s to IndiGo, even painting them in IndiGo colours.
While it’s not quite the identical as owning and operating a plane of its own, the wet-leased jets have given IndiGo a taste of what it’s prefer to run operations with an even bigger plane. Many had long seen this move as IndiGo’s way of preparing for future widebody operations using its own aircraft.
Massive narrowbody order within the works
All of this has surfaced amid reports that IndiGo is nearing a large aircraft order, one that would even eclipse Air India’s 470-airplane take care of Boeing and Airbus just a few months ago. The airline is alleged to be in final conversation with Airbus for an order of 500 A320s. If the deal is signed, it is going to be the biggest aircraft order in history when it comes to the variety of planes.
Photo: BoeingMan777/Shutterstock
The huge deal might be value greater than $50 billion on paper, but with bulk orders like these, the airline will likely get an enormous discount. IndiGo already shares an amazing relationship with Airbus, with a whole bunch of A320neo family of jets already on order.
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