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The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
IndiGo CEO pitches for India as global hub for connecting flights
With 65% of the world population within 5-6 hours of flying distance from India, the country has the potential to be a global aviation hub as well as expand its outbound travel market, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said on Friday ahead of a major international airlines meet being hosted in the national capital. 'If you realise that 65% of the world population lives within five to six hours of flying time from India, it basically means we have an opportunity to start building India not only as a point- to- point destination, but also as a great place to connect,' Elbers said during a press briefing. IndiGo is the host airline for International Air Transport Association's 3-day summit starting June 1 which will see over 1700 participates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also give an address at the event. 'If there could be great hubs to the west and east of India, why shouldn't we have it here. So, the opportunity really is to build it going forward,' he added. The pitch for building India as a hub (or a central transfer point that connects passengers between multiple international destinations), which is the direction the Indian government has been driving the industry towards for the past few years, comes at a time IndiGo is set to enter the long-haul market with non-stop flights to destinations in Europe such as Manchester and Amsterdam that will be launched in early July, and London and Copenhagen that are expected to take off during the winter season. There will be more destinations such as Athens in Greece that the airline will fly to once it starts adding Airbus A321 XLRs to its fleet by the end of this year. The airline will start adding its own brand new widebodies from 2027 when the Airbus A350s will join its fleet allowing it 'the opportunity to go anywhere in the world.' Investments were needed in infrastructure as well as the aviation industry to execute hub ambitions, he said, as aviation was 'a force for good'. Aviation makes a contribution of $54 billion to India's GDP, or equivalent of 1.5% of the GDP. It creates 8 million jobs where one aircraft results in the creation of over 100 new airline jobs, and one aviation job results in 6.1 jobs economy wide, Mr Elbers said. To bolster the case for India to become an aviation hub, the IndiGo CEO said that while the world was still recovering from the impact of Covid-19, India was expected to record 20% more passengers this year than pre-COVID-19, while IndiGo had clocked 118 million passengers last year as compared to 78 million pre pandemic- almost 50% growth in passengers. 'There is an enormous opportunity as an international outbound tourism market. There is unstoppable growth,' Mr. Elbers said. There is also potential for airlines to expand as there were only 0.13 flight seats per capita in India, which was one-fifth of 0.59 per capita seats in China for domestic travellers. On the international front, the per capita seats in India were half of China, he said. On Friday, the airline also announced an agreement with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) for building a state-of-the art MRO (Maintenance Repair Overhaul) facility on 31 acre of land.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
IndiGo, BIAL sign MoU for 31-acre MRO hub at Kempegowda International Airport
IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) to establish a dedicated Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) facility at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Under the agreement, BIAL will allocate approximately 31 acres of land to IndiGo for the development of MRO infrastructure, which will support the airline's growing fleet, ANI reported. 'Partnering with BIAL underlines our shared commitment to drive long-term growth of the aviation ecosystem in Bengaluru and cement its status as one of the best and world-class international hubs in India,' said Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo. 'We see this collaboration as a pivotal step towards building a significant global presence for IndiGo, as well as for India.' Hari Marar, MD & CEO of BIAL, welcomed the partnership, saying: 'We have had a very successful, long-term relationship with IndiGo, and this collaboration further strengthens our association with the airline. This is a strong validation of the growth potential of BLR Airport and the City of Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub.' He added that the initiative reinforces BIAL's commitment to developing world-class aviation infrastructure and positioning Bengaluru as a leading aerospace and MRO hub in India. In addition to the MRO facility, IndiGo and BIAL will explore collaboration in areas such as network expansion, infrastructure development, and joint marketing initiatives. The airline, which is preparing for rapid fleet growth, expects to have over 600 aircraft by 2030. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now IndiGo has also partnered with Norse Atlantic Airways for the dry lease of six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to complete by early 2026, ahead of the planned arrival of Airbus A350s in 2027. IndiGo recently announced the launch of long-haul operations with non-stop flights from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam starting July 2025. The airline also plans to expand its long-haul network to London and Copenhagen as its fleet of damp-leased B787s grows later this year. Domestically, the airline will add four new destinations, expanding its network from 91 to 95 locations. IndiGo is also set to become the first carrier to operate from the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and Noida International Airport in Jewar. At a press briefing, Elbers noted that the airline's loyalty program, BlueChip, has already enrolled three million members within six months of its launch. 'The financial year 2025 has been a pivotal year in our journey as we took significant steps in our evolution into a truly global airline,' Elbers said. 'This includes the introduction of IndiGoStretch, our tailor-made business offering, and BlueChip, our loyalty program, besides sizeable network expansion in the domestic as well as international market.'
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
IndiGo names ex-Shell India chief Mehta as chairman, onboards KLM's Dortmans
IndiGo on Wednesday announced the appointment of Vikram Singh Mehta as the Chairman of the Board as well as KLM's top engineering executive Ton Dortmans to support the induction of Airbus A350s that would join the fleet from 2027 apart from building the airline's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) strategy. Mr. Mehta succeeds Venkataramani Sumantran who stepped down from the post after completion of his five-year term as a board member. Mr. Mehta has been a Member of the Board of InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) since May 2022. He is the Chairman of the public policy think tank 'Centre for Social and Economic Progress', and former Executive Chairman of Brookings India and Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution. He has also helmed the Shell Group of Companies in India as Chairman. Ton Dortmans, KLM's Executive Vice President Engineering & Maintenance, will join IndiGo in mid-August after retiring from the Dutch airline this summer upon turning 60. At KLM, he served for 40 years and also oversaw the induction of the 'jumbo jets' or the Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
Business Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Trump announces US$14.5 billion Etihad order for 28 Boeing planes with GE engines
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Thursday announced deals totaling more than US$200 billion between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, including a US$14.5 billion commitment between Boeing, GE Aerospace and Etihad Airways, the White House said. Etihad confirmed on Friday it was ordering 28 wide-body Boeing aircraft with GE engines, adding that the deal reflected the airline's 'ongoing approach to aligning its fleet with evolving network and operational needs.' The Abu Dhabi-based airline said the planes were expected to join the fleet starting in 2028. The White House said earlier that Boeing and GE had received a commitment from Etihad to invest US$14.5 billion to buy 28 Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft powered by GE engines. GE and Boeing did not comment. 'With the inclusion of the next-generation 777X in its fleet plan, the investment deepens the longstanding commercial aviation partnership between the UAE and the United States, fueling American manufacturing, driving exports,' the White House said. Etihad has a fleet of around 100 aircraft. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves said last month that Etihad planned to add 20 to 22 new planes this year, as it aims to expand its fleet to more than 170 planes by 2030 and boost Abu Dhabi's economic diversification strategy. Etihad, which is owned by Abu Dhabi's US$225 billion wealth fund ADQ, has been through a multi-year restructuring and management shake-up, but has expanded under Neves. He said that 10 of the new aircraft this year would be Airbus A321LRs, which the carrier launched on Monday and will start operating in August. The remainder include six Airbus A350s and four Boeing 787s. On Wednesday, Boeing landed its biggest deal for widebody airplanes when state carrier Qatar Airways placed firm orders during Trump's visit to the Gulf Arab country for 160 jetliners plus options to buy 50 more worth US$96 billion, according to the White House. REUTERS
Business Insider
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Top 5 African countries with the largest national carrier fleets
The aviation industry in Africa is experiencing commendable growth, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. This expansion has led to an increase in the number of airline operators across the continent. The African aviation industry is witnessing notable growth post-pandemic. Enhanced partnerships aim to boost connectivity within Africa and globally. Other key carriers include EgyptAir, Air Algérie, Royal Air Maroc, and Kenya Airways. Here is a comprehensive overview of the African countries with the largest national carrier fleets as of 2024, highlighting the leading airlines by fleet size and their strategic developments: 1. Ethiopian Airlines – Ethiopia Fleet Size: 156 aircraft Destinations: 161 passenger, 68 cargo Alliance: Star Alliance Overview: Ethiopian Airlines stands as Africa's largest airline, both in fleet size and destinations served. The airline operates a diverse fleet, including Airbus A350s, Boeing 737s, 767s, 777s, 787s, and Bombardier Dash Q-400 aircraft. With plans to double its fleet and route network by 2035, Ethiopian Airlines continues to expand its global footprint. 2. EgyptAir – Egypt Fleet Size: 78 aircraft Destinations: 102 Alliance: Star Alliance Overview: EgyptAir, the national carrier of Egypt, operates a fleet of 78 aircraft, serving 102 destinations worldwide. The airline has recently expanded its fleet with an order of 18 Boeing 737-8 aircraft, aiming to modernize and enhance its services. 3. Air Algérie – Algeria Fleet Size: 56 aircraft Destinations: 78 Overview: Air Algérie operates a fleet of 56 aircraft, connecting 78 destinations across 28 countries. The airline plays a significant role in linking Algeria with various regions, including Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Air Algerie 4. Royal Air Maroc – Morocco Fleet Size: 52 aircraft Destinations: 89 Alliance: Oneworld Overview: Royal Air Maroc (RAM), Morocco's flag carrier, operates a fleet of 52 aircraft, serving 89 destinations across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. The airline has ambitious plans to quadruple its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, aligning with Morocco's goal to attract 26 million tourists by 2030. 5. Kenya Airways – Kenya Fleet Size: 34 aircraft Destinations: 44 Alliance: SkyTeam Overview: Kenya Airways, the national airline of Kenya, operates a fleet of 34 aircraft, connecting 44 destinations. The airline serves as a key player in East African aviation, offering extensive connectivity within Africa and to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Conclusion Ethiopian Airlines leads the African aviation sector with the largest fleet and extensive global reach. Other national carriers like EgyptAir, Air Algérie, Royal Air Maroc, and Kenya Airways also play significant roles in connecting Africa to the world. With ongoing fleet expansions and strategic partnerships, these airlines are poised to enhance intra-African connectivity and global integration.
