GURUGRAM- IndiGo Airlines (6E), India’s largest airline since 2006, grew from a domestic low-cost startup to one of the largest global carriers in less than two decades.
As of May 2025, the airline operates a fleet of 420 aircraft, comprising narrow-body jets, regional turboprops, and some wide-body aircraft on lease. Its size and aspirations have taken it to the position of the second-largest airline in Asia and the ninth-largest in the world by total seats.
Its operational reputation as an efficient, high utilization, and on-time carrier is based on its single-type, single-class fleet philosophy. While that trend is reversing with the introduction of new business-class products and wide-body aircraft, IndiGo’s A320neo family aircraft form the core of its fleet.
Moreover, the airline is also the largest operator in the world of the A320neo and the A320neo family aircraft. With nearly 950 planes on order as of 2025, including A321XLRs and A350-900s, the airline is set for a new round of regional and international expansion.
Here is a breakdown of the current IndiGo fleet and future expansion plans.
IndiGo Airlines Current Fleet
Airbus A320-200
IndiGo operates 26 Airbus A320-200 aircraft as of May 2025, a decrease from more than 100 earlier in the decade. All are configured as all-economy 180-seat aircraft and fly primarily on domestic trunk routes. The A320ceo fleet is being phased out, to be replaced with more efficient A320neo jets.
Airbus A320neo
With 237 A320neo aircraft in service, IndiGo is the largest operator of this variant in the world. The aircraft are either in 180 or 186 all-economy configuration, depending on batch deliveries. The A320neo is IndiGo’s workhorse in the domestic market and short-haul regional international routes across Asia and the Middle East.
Another 23 aircraft will be delivered in the next few months, as part of IndiGo’s original order for 500+ A320neo family aircraft.
Airbus A321neo
IndiGo operates 105 Airbus A321neo planes in its fleet as of May 2025 and has 579 on order. These aircraft are more capacity-wise—typically 220 or 232 seats—and fly high-density domestic routes and medium-haul international routes such as India–Singapore, India–Bangkok, and to the Gulf.
IndiGo introduced its first A321neo aircraft with “IndiGo Stretch”—the airline’s new business class product offering 12 reclining seats in the front cabin in November 2024. These aircraft are now deployed on premium leisure and business routes such as Delhi–Dubai and Mumbai–Singapore.
ATR 72-600
IndiGo is also increasing its regional connectivity strategy with its fleet of 48 ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft, each seating 78 passengers. The planes fly to Tier-2 and Tier-3 Indian cities under India’s UDAN regional connectivity program.
Moreover, IndiGo is also said to be contemplating a new order for as many as 100 regional jets—ATR 72s, Airbus A220s, or Embraer E175s—to enable regional development down the line.
Wet-Leased Aircraft
To cope with near-term international growth and cover long-haul capability shortages, IndiGo has several wide-body planes on wet or dry lease as of now:
- Boeing 777-300ER (2 aircraft) from Turkish Airlines, flying to Istanbul and certain European routes.
- Boeing 737-8 (6 aircraft) acquired from Qatar Airways to address peak demand on certain short-haul international routes.
- Boeing 787-9 (1 aircraft) leased from Norse Atlantic Airways since March 2025, flying to Europe and Southeast Asia.
These aircraft fill the gap in wide-body capacity until the airline receives its own A350-900s in 2027.
Cargo Fleet: A321P2F
IndiGo’s dedicated freighter division, IndiGo CarGo, operates three Airbus A321P2F (passenger-to-freighter conversion) aircraft. A fourth freighter will join the fleet later in 2025. The freighters fly both domestic cargo spokes and selected regional networks.
Moreover, the A321P2F platform offers a low-cost belly cargo solution for the fast-evolving Indian logistics market.
Aircraft on Order
As of May 2025, IndiGo boasts an incredible 946 aircraft on order, the largest commercial aviation history backlog.
Airbus A320neo Family
IndiGo’s historical June 2023 order for 500 A320neo family aircraft brought its order book to over 1,300 planes since its inception. The June 2023 order is valued in excess of $50 billion and includes a mix of A320neo, A321neo, and A321XLR aircraft. Deliveries of the 2023 order would span from 2030 to 2035.
Although no A321XLR jets are in service until May 2025, IndiGo has a definite order for 69 of them, and the deliveries will start from later this year. These aircraft will be configured in a premium-dense layout and fly long-thin routes that cannot be profitably served by wide-bodies at a low fare.
The record order announced in June 2023 followed earlier mass orders:
- 100 A320ceo aircraft (2005)
- 180 A320neo aircraft (2011)
- 250 A320neo aircraft (2015)
- 300 A320neo family aircraft (2019)
Airbus A350-900
IndiGo entered the widebody scene, ordering 30 A350-900s, with an option for an additional 70 jets on April 25, 2024. Earlier this year, the LCC converted 30 options into firm orders. The deliveries are to start in 2027, and the A350s will be deployed on ultra-long-haul flights to Europe, the US, and Australia.
This was IndiGo’s formal entry into wide-body operations on its own AOC (air operator certificate), where the carrier is focusing on establishing a credible global hub operation out of Delhi and Mumbai.
Regional Aircraft (Planned)
IndiGo is seriously evaluating proposals to acquire 100 regional jets to expand UDAN operations and serve short-haul sectors where ATR 72s or other small jets are more economical compared to narrow-body Airbus aircraft. The choices being weighed include:
- ATR 72-600
- Airbus A220-100/A220-300
- Embraer E175/E190-E2
The choice is expected to be made in late 2025.
Fleet History and Milestones
IndiGo’s growth story goes hand in hand with its judicious fleet management. Some of the key milestones are:
- 2005: Initial 100 A320ceos ordered at Paris Air Show
- 2006: Delivery of first flight; commercial operations began
- 2011: MoU for 180 aircraft, including 150 A320neo jets
- 2012: Delivery of 50th plane
- 2014: Delivery of 100th plane—well ahead of target
- 2015: Firm order for 250 A320neo planes finalized
- 2016: Delivery of first A320neo
- 2019: Order for 300 A320neo family planes, 69 of which are A321XLRs
- 2023: Record-setting order for 500 A320neo family planes
- 2024: First wide-body order (30 A350s + 70 options)
The carrier has been very consistent in pursuing a single fleet type strategy, gradually evolving into a multi-fleet carrier with risk-taking on a measured scale.
Outlook
IndiGo’s 2025 fleet strategy is one of a cautious balance between aggressive expansion and operating convenience. Even as narrow-body supremacy continues to underpin profitability and economies of scale, the insidious drift into wide-body operations and premium seating implies a bigger objective—to become a full-service, pan-Asian mega carrier based in India.
With a firm orderbook that surpasses most legacy carriers globally, IndiGo is not just planning for the next few years; it’s laying the foundation for the next two decades of aviation leadership.
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Sources: Planespotters, Wikipedia
