Latest news with #PieterElbers
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
India's IndiGo to add 10 new international destinations to its network
(Reuters) -Indian airline IndiGo will add 10 international destinations and broaden its business class offerings overseas this year, CEO Pieter Elbers said on Friday, ramping up competition with rival Air India. The move marks a fresh push by IndiGo to tap into premium international travel, a space long dominated by Tata-owned Air India. IndiGo, which holds nearly 60% of India's domestic market, flew 1.8 million international passengers in the October–December quarter, just behind Air India and its budget unit's combined 2 million, DGCA data showed. The company will add business class seats on routes to Singapore, Phuket and Dubai, CEO Pieter Elbers said at an event in Delhi on Friday, without specifying the Indian departure points. The airline also plans to expand its long-haul network later this year with new destinations including London, Copenhagen, Athens, and Southeast Asian countries and cities like Hanoi and Cambodia. Earlier this year, IndiGo said it aims to increase international seat capacity and expand its fleet to over 600 aircraft by fiscal 2030. It has also signed a deal with Bengaluru International Airport to develop maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) infrastructure to support this growth. Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille
Daily Tribune
7 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
India hosts aviation power meet
TDT | Manama India's emergence as a global aviation force is taking centre stage this weekend as it plays host to one of the airline industry's most significant events— the 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).. Scheduled from June 1st to 3rd in New Delhi, the event marks the return of IATA's flagship summit to Indian soil after a 42-year gap, last held in India in 1983. Record attendance More than 1,700 delegates, including top airline CEOs, government officials, and global media, are attending the AGM, which is being hosted by India's leading carrier, IndiGo. India's Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is expected to deliver the keynote address, signalling high-level national endorsement of the gathering. 'We are excited to bring the IATA AGM to India after a 42-year gap,' said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General. 'India's place in global aviation has changed dramatically. The country has seen record aircraft orders, impressive growth, and world-class infrastructure developments.' IndiGo in the lead IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, who also chairs the IATA Board of Governors, noted that the summit reflects India's growing influence in global aviation. He said aviation is a powerful force for good worldwide and that this is particularly evident in India. IndiGo, he added, is proud to invite the IATA AGM back to India and showcase the country's rapid progress in the sector. India's aviation industry directly employs over 369,000 people and contributes $5.6 billion to the economy. When factoring in indirect, induced, and tourism impacts, the sector supports 7.7 million jobs and adds $53.6 billion to GDP—roughly 1.5 percent of the national total. Summit agenda The AGM will be followed by the World Air Transport Summit (WATS), where major global themes will be discussed, including the financial outlook for airlines, India's strategic use of aviation for development, and the role of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Discussions will also focus on financing the journey to net zero and innovations in payment systems. CNN's Richard Quest will moderate the summit's CEO Panel featuring Pieter Elbers of IndiGo, Joanna Geraghty of JetBlue, Adrian Neuhauser of Abra Group, and Richard Smith of FedEx. Progress and inclusion A highlight of the event will be the sixth edition of the IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards, which honour efforts to advance gender balance in the industry as part of the 25by2025 initiative. Willie Walsh said the AGM is always a moment for the industry to reflect and regroup in the face of enormous economic, geopolitical, and technological forces. He expressed confidence that the gathering would deliver value to stakeholders and strengthen global collaboration. As global attention turns to India's aviation trajectory, the AGM in New Delhi signals not just a return, but a recognition of the country's new role as a global aviation hub.
Scroll.in
15 hours ago
- Business
- Scroll.in
IndiGo granted ‘last and final' extension to end agreement with Turkish Airlines
The Union government on Friday gave Indian carrier IndiGo a ' one-time last and final ' three-month extension to end its leasing agreement with Turkish Airlines, reported The Indian Express. IndiGo operates two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on a damp lease agreement from Turkish Airlines. It uses the aircraft for direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul. Under the agreement, Turkish Airlines supplies the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance, while IndiGo handles ticket sales and marketing of the service. The Indian carrier had requested a six-month extension of the agreement, which the Union government rejected. This came against the backdrop of Ankara's support for Islamabad during heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, and amid reports that Pakistan used Turkish-made drones during the conflict. IndiGo was given the three-month extension, which came just a day before the agreement was set to expire, 'based on the undertaking from the airline that they will terminate the lease with Turkish Airlines within this extension period, and shall not seek any further extension for these operations', a senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. The two airlines had signed the damp lease agreement in 2023. IndiGo also has a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines since 2018. A codeshare agreement allows airlines to sell seats on each other's flights. This allows airlines to offer flights to destinations they do not directly operate, expanding their network and customer base without increasing their fleet. Amid worsening India-Turkey relations, IndiGo had stated that its agreements with Turkish Airlines are fully aligned with Indian laws and regulations, The Indian Express reported. 'If there are any changes in the framework, we will naturally adjust our operations to stay aligned,' IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers said earlier in the day, according to Business Standard.
Hans India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
IndiGo to fly to 10 overseas cities this year
IndiGo will start direct flights to a total of 10 international destinations, including London and Athens, in the current financial year, its CEO Pieter Elbers said on Friday. Other destinations include Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Manchester (the UK), Copenhagen (Denmark) Siem Reap (Cambodia) and four places in Central Asia. There is an enormous opportunity in Indian aviation where rising demand is supported by infrastructure expansion, Elbers said at a briefing in the national capital. IndiGo will start operating direct flights from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam with the leased Boeing 787-9 aircraft in July, and the services to the UK city will also mark the airline's long haul debut. A $10 billion-revenue company, IndiGo flies to more than 90 domestic and 40 international destinations. It operates over 2,300 flights daily with a fleet of more than 430 planes.
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
DGCA cuts short Indigo's Turkish aircraft lease pact
India's aviation regulator granted IndiGo only a three-month extension to operate two Turkish Airlines aircraft under a damp lease arrangement, instead of the six it sought, amid close scrutiny of Turkish companies following Ankara's military support to Pakistan during the recent conflict. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced on Friday that it extended the lease of two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft until August 31, but made clear this would be the final extension. 'In order to avoid passenger inconvenience due to immediate flight disruption, Indigo has been granted a one-time last and final extension of three months,' the DGCA said in a statement, adding that the airline must terminate the arrangement within this period and 'shall not seek any further extension.' In the aftermath of Turkey's support to Pakistan, India revoked the security clearance of Turkish-founded ground handling firm Celebi Aviation, citing national security concerns, affecting operations at nine major airports. Celebi has sued the government and a decision is pending in the Delhi high court. IndiGo had requested a six-month extension for the aircraft, which were originally leased until May 31, but regulators granted only half that period. The airline leased these planes in November last year under a damp lease arrangement, where Turkish Airlines provides the aircraft and flight crew while IndiGo supplies cabin crew and handles other operational aspects. HT reached out to IndiGo for a response but did not get one as of going to print. Earlier, IndiGo's chief executive spoke on the company's Turkey-related operations, though did not specifically mention the issue of the jets. 'Flights between India and Türkiye are governed within the bilateral air service agreement. We are compliant today and we will continue to comply with any government regulations,' said Pieter Elbers, IndiGo's chief executive officer, speaking ahead of the International Air Transport Association summit in India. The damp lease arrangement has allowed IndiGo to operate wide-body aircraft for international routes without immediately training its own pilots on the Boeing 777-300ER type. Elbers separately announced that IndiGo plans to launch direct flights to eight new international destinations within the current financial year, including four to Central Asia. The airline has faced operational constraints due to Pakistan's closure of its airspace to Indian carriers in April, forcing IndiGo to temporarily suspend operations to Tashkent and Almaty due to extended flight times and operational costs. When asked about operations to Central Asia given the airspace restrictions, Elbers said the airline was evaluating departure cities within India.
