IndiGo Airlines is in talks to acquire around 100 regional aircraft, sources have told Economic Times newspaper, with ATR – Avions de Transport Régional, the widely tipped favourite in a three-horse race between that OEM, Airbus, and Embraer.
The “people aware of the development” claimed the LCC is leaning towards ATR because it already operates ATR72-600s, knows the aircraft and the manufacturer, and adding more will offer economies of scale. However, A220 and E175 types are also under consideration. The report suggests the order will likely be split 50/50 between a firm order and options.
IndiGo’s forty-five ATR72-600s service regional routes within India. It also has five more of the type on order. The report notes that the airline – which has around a 60% domestic market share in India – has made no final decision on any order. Any order will add to IndiGo Airlines’ burgeoning backlog, now numbering 984 aircraft according to ch-aviation fleets data. Excluding the five ATR72-600s, the airline’s order book includes two A320-200s, 265 A320-200Ns, 390 A321-200Ns, 223 A321-200NX, sixty-nine A321-200NY(XLR)s, and thirty A350-900s.
IndiGo’s existing fleet totals 354 aircraft, excluding 17 wet-leased planes. The carrier flies to 118 destinations in 23 countries.
