DELHI- IndiGo Airlines (6E) has officially opened bookings for its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner service. The airline will launch daily flights on Delhi-Bangkok sector. Flights are set to begin from 1st March 2025.
The destination the airline has chosen has taken everyone by surprise. Instead of a long-haul European route, the airline will debut its widebody operations on the Delhi–Bangkok route, starting March 2025.
IndiGo Delhi to Bangkok flights
The daily service will be operated with the Boeing 787-9, significantly upgrading capacity and comfort on this high-demand route. IndiGo has also changed the timings of the flights in this sector. The turn-around time in Bangkok increases to 2 hours, compared to just 1 hour for an Airbus A320 aircraft.
- Flight 6E1053 will depart from Delhi every day at 10:00 am IST. The flights will arrive in Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport at 16:10 pm local time.
- After 2 hours, the return flight 6E1054 will depart from Bangkok at 18:10 pm local time and will land in Delhi at 20:45 pm IST.
The addition of a widebody aircraft will provide more seating capacity, enhanced inflight comfort, and potential premium seating options, making it an attractive alternative to competing full-service carriers.
Norse aircrafts are fitted with 2-class seating. However, its worth noting that the aircraft is densely configured. There are two different configurations as well. The configuration of the B787-9s IndiGo will operate will have 338 seats on-board. This includes 56 premium-economy seats and 282 Economy seats.
IndiGo has made its premium economy seats available for booking under its newly introduced business class offering. Passengers can reserve these seats as part of IndiGo’s “Stretch” category, enjoying all the added comfort and benefits that come with it.
This marks IndiGo’s debut of a business class product on an international route. The airline currently operates business class product only on domestic routes.
A Surprising Choice
Many industry observers expected IndiGo to deploy its wet-leased Boeing 787-9s from Norse Atlantic Airways on routes to London or Paris, aligning with its long-term aspirations to expand into the European market.
However, the airline has instead chosen Bangkok, a well-established market where it already operates multiple daily narrowbody flights. This move could be a strategic testing ground before launching long-haul operations.
Norse Atlantic-IndiGo Partnership
IndiGo is wet-leasing up to six Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways, a Norwegian low-cost carrier specializing in long-haul flights. This partnership allows IndiGo to quickly enter the widebody market without waiting for its own Airbus A350-900 deliveries, which are expected to start in 2027.
IndiGo is set to receive its first Boeing 787-9 soon, as bookings have already opened. As per the agreement, Norse Atlantic Airways will lease two Boeing 787-9s to IndiGo in February, meaning another aircraft is expected to join the fleet. This only if there are not any changes in the agreement. Additionally, the agreement outlines the lease of four more Boeing 787s in September 2025, further expanding IndiGo’s widebody operations.
What This Means for IndiGo
There could be several factors influencing IndiGo’s decision to launch its first Boeing 787-9 on a short-haul route. It was initially anticipated that IndiGo will launch European destinations with the leased B787-9s.
- Testing Widebody Operations: By starting with a shorter international route, IndiGo can fine-tune its crew training, maintenance, and operational logistics before expanding to Europe or beyond.
- Future Expansion: With six 787-9s expected in 2025, longer routes seem imminent. Flights to destinations like London, Paris, or even Copenhagen are likely in the pipeline. IndiGo already holds slots in various European airports.
IndiGo’s decision to deploy its first Dreamliner on Bangkok instead of Europe is unexpected. But it makes strategic sense as a stepping stone toward long-haul ambitions. With its first widebody flight set for March 1, 2025, all eyes will be on how IndiGo executes this new chapter in its operations.
While this is not a long-haul flight, it marks IndiGo’s strategic move into widebody operations. With plans to expand its international network, the airline has also placed an order for 30 Airbus A350-900s. IndiGo is expected to take delivery of first B787-9 in 2027.
The choice of Bangkok as the first 787-9 route could be a test run before launching longer international flights. It also aligns with IndiGo’s strategy of strengthening its presence in high-demand regional markets before expanding further.
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