InterGlobe Aviation Limited (d/b/aIndiGo), is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It is the largest airline in India by passengers carried and fleet size, with a 62% domestic market share as of August 2024.[citation needed][4] It is the largest individual Asian airline, and one of the largest in the world in terms of passengers carried, with more than 100 million passengers carried in 2023. As of October 2024[update], IndiGo operates over 2,000 daily flights to 122 destinations – 88 domestic and 34 international, with a fleet of over 382 aircraft.[5] It has its primary hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.
The airline was founded as a private company by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal in 2006. It took delivery of its first aircraft in July 2006 and commenced operations a month later. The airline became the largest Indian carrier by passenger market share in 2012. The company went public in November 2015. IndiGo was ranked as the fifteenth most punctual airline globally in 2022 by OAG.
IndiGo was founded in 2006 as a private company by Rahul Bhatia of InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal, a United States–based expatriate Indian.[6] InterGlobe had a 51.12% stake in IndiGo and 47.88% was held by Gangwal's Virginia-based company, Caelum Investments.[7][8] IndiGo placed a firm order for 100 Airbus A320-200 aircraft in June 2005 with plans to begin operations in mid-2006.[9] IndiGo took delivery of its first aircraft on 28 July 2006, nearly a year after placing the order.[10] It commenced operations on 4 August 2006 with a service from New Delhi to Imphal via Guwahati.[11] By the end of 2006, the airline had six aircraft, and nine more were acquired in 2007.[11] In December 2010, IndiGo replaced state-run carrier Air India as the third largest airline in India, behind Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways with a passenger market share of 17.3%.[12]
In 2011, IndiGo placed an order for 180 Airbus A320 aircraft in a deal worth US$15 billion.[13] In January 2011, after completing five years of operations, the airline was permitted to launch international flights.[14] In December 2011, the DGCA expressed reservations that the rapid expansion could impact passenger safety.[15]
In February 2012, IndiGo took delivery of its 50th aircraft, less than six years after it began operations.[16] For the quarter ending March 2012, IndiGo was the most profitable airline in India and became the second largest airline in India in terms of passenger market share.[17] On 17 August 2012, IndiGo became the largest airline in India in terms of market share surpassing Jet Airways, six years after commencing operations.[18]
In January 2013, IndiGo was the second-fastest-growing low-cost carrier in Asia behind Indonesian airline Lion Air.[19] In February 2013, following the announcement of the Civil Aviation Ministry that it would allow IndiGo to take delivery of only five aircraft that year, the airline planned to introduce low-cost regional flights by setting up a subsidiary. Later, IndiGo announced that it planned to seek permission from the ministry to acquire four more aircraft, therefore taking delivery of nine aircraft in 2013.[20] As of March 2014[update], IndiGo is the second-largest low-cost carrier in Asia in terms of seats flown.[21]
In August 2015, IndiGo placed an order for 250 Airbus A320neo aircraft worth $27 billion, making it the largest single order ever in Airbus history.[22] IndiGo announced a ₹3,018 crore (equivalent to ₹36 billion or US$430 million in 2023) initial public offering on 19 October 2015 which opened on 27 October 2015.[23][24][25]
In October 2019, IndiGo placed an order for 300 Airbus A320neo aircraft worth ₹2.3 lakhcrore (US$28 billion), surpassing its own record of the largest single order ever in Airbus history.[26][27] In December 2019, the airline became the first Indian airline to operate 1,500 daily flights.[28] On 31 December 2019, it became India's first airline to have a fleet size of more than 250 aircraft.[29]
In January 2023, the airline became the first Indian airline to have a fleet size of more than 300 aircraft.[30] In February 2023, the airline inducted the first wide-body aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER to its fleet.[31] In June 2023, the airline placed an order for 500 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, making it the largest aircraft order in commercial aviation history.[32] As of November 2023, IndiGo had a 61.8% domestic market share.[33] In December 2023, IndiGo became the first Indian airline to have ferried more than 100 million passengers in a calendar year.[34] In April 2024, IndiGo formally entered the wide-body space by placing an order of 30 A350-900s, with 70 options.[35] The delivery of these aircraft will begin in 2027.
Twenty dots arranged in the shape of an aircraft serves as the logo of the airline.[38] The airline uses a two tone blue livery on a white background with the belly of the aircraft painted in Indigo with the logo in white.[39] The flight attendants wear a single-piece navy-blue tunic with a cap and a thin indigo belt.[40] The airline has the tagline on-time focusing on punctuality.[40]
IndiGo became one of the fastest growing low-cost carriers in the world and the largest airline in India.[19] The success of IndiGo has been attributed to its unique business model which reduces costs.[17] The airline operates a single type of aircraft (Airbus A320) in similar seating configuration which simplifies crew training and maintenance.[17] The airline strikes bulk deals with Airbus, reducing unit costs.[17] The airline targets a quick turn-around time of 20 minutes to get the aircraft ready for the next flight, ensuring planes fly about 12 hours every day.[49] Employees share multiple roles with a check-in staff doubling as baggage handlers.[49] In July 2023, Indian aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation imposed a ₹30 lakh (US$36,000) fine on IndiGo for certain systemic deficiencies concerning documentation pertaining to operations, training, and engineering procedures.[50]
As of September 2024[update], IndiGo operates more than 2,000 daily flights to 122 destinations, 88 in India and 34 abroad.[54][55][56] Its main base is located at Delhi,[57] with additional bases at Bangalore,[58]Chennai,[59]Hyderabad,[60]Kolkata,[59]Mumbai,[59] and Kochi.[61] In January 2011, IndiGo received a license to operate international flights after completing five years of operations.[62] IndiGo's first international service was launched between New Delhi and Dubai on 1 September 2011.[63][64]
Being a low-cost carrier, IndiGo offers only economy class seating. To keep fares low, IndiGo does not provide complimentary meals in any of its flights. While it has a buy-on board in-flight meal programme, no hot meals are available as, to minimise costs, IndiGo aircraft are not equipped with ovens.[75][failed verification] However, hot drinks and instant meals prepared with hot water like instant noodles, upma and poha are available.[76] No in-flight entertainment is available and Hello 6E is the in-flight magazine published by IndiGo.[77] IndiGo offers premium services, where the passengers can avail additional benefits like a pre-assigned seat, multiple cancellations and priority check-in at a higher fare.[78] In September 2019, the company announced its tie up with SonyLIV, an on demand video app for providing its passengers with entertainment options in-flight and at the airport.[79]