IndiGo plans to expand fleet with smaller Aircraft
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IndiGo plans to expand fleet with smaller Aircraft
New Delhi: IndiGo airline’s promoter Rahul Bhatia said today he is looking to acquire smaller aircraft though no plans have been firmed up as yet on either the manufacturer or the number of planes to be bought.
Agency reports quoted him saying, “There is certainly a market for smaller aircraft in India. We are looking at it but at what time we will induct these aircraft I cannot say.” Bhatia was speaking to reporters after the launch of a pilot simulator training facility in Greater Noida, near Delhi.
Some months back, Firstpost had quoted official sources to say that IndiGo is planning to start regional operations by launching a separate subsidiary company. IndiGo operates a single aircraft type fleet of the Airbus 320 family in a single class configuration, primarily deploying them on metro routes as a low cost carrier (LCC).
In today’s interaction, Bhatia did not speak of either setting up any new subsidiary or of a timeline by which smaller aircraft would be inducted but the intent is clear – it is looking at increased regional operations.
Earlier, there were reports of IndiGo planning to place an order for up to 20 ATR aircraft but no confirmation is available on this still. IndiGo’s possible regional foray could change the dynamic of domestic aviation.
Six years ago, IndiGo was the newest kid on the block which began with a new fleet of the Airbus 320 family, offering low fares and on-time flights, fighting established competitors like Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines (which has been grounded since October 2012) and Air India.
Despite tough competition, IndiGo consistently notched up market share to eventually become the number one airline in a matter of just about six years.
Today, IndiGo controls almost a third of the domestic market and claims it is profitable when all other domestic carriers are steeped in losses and debt.
A recent story in Business Standard newspaper said that the promoters and shareholders of IndiGo raked in Rs 548 crore in dividend income in 2012-13, quoting a filing with the Registrar of Companies (RoC).
The same story also said that over the last three years, the airline has given Rs 1,000 crore in dividends to its promoters.
In today’s interaction, Bhatia said “it is not going to happen tomorrow” to a question on whether the company was going public. “May be at some point, although not imminent,” he was quoted as saying by agencies. Bhatia also said that he was not afraid of competition, with reference to the imminent launch of two new airlines — AirAsia and Tata-SIA. “We welcome the competition. But India is an enormously underserved market, and there is room for every one to survive,” he added.
IndiGo plans to expand fleet with smaller aircraft | Firstpost
Agency reports quoted him saying, “There is certainly a market for smaller aircraft in India. We are looking at it but at what time we will induct these aircraft I cannot say.” Bhatia was speaking to reporters after the launch of a pilot simulator training facility in Greater Noida, near Delhi.
Some months back, Firstpost had quoted official sources to say that IndiGo is planning to start regional operations by launching a separate subsidiary company. IndiGo operates a single aircraft type fleet of the Airbus 320 family in a single class configuration, primarily deploying them on metro routes as a low cost carrier (LCC).
In today’s interaction, Bhatia did not speak of either setting up any new subsidiary or of a timeline by which smaller aircraft would be inducted but the intent is clear – it is looking at increased regional operations.
Earlier, there were reports of IndiGo planning to place an order for up to 20 ATR aircraft but no confirmation is available on this still. IndiGo’s possible regional foray could change the dynamic of domestic aviation.
Six years ago, IndiGo was the newest kid on the block which began with a new fleet of the Airbus 320 family, offering low fares and on-time flights, fighting established competitors like Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines (which has been grounded since October 2012) and Air India.
Despite tough competition, IndiGo consistently notched up market share to eventually become the number one airline in a matter of just about six years.
Today, IndiGo controls almost a third of the domestic market and claims it is profitable when all other domestic carriers are steeped in losses and debt.
A recent story in Business Standard newspaper said that the promoters and shareholders of IndiGo raked in Rs 548 crore in dividend income in 2012-13, quoting a filing with the Registrar of Companies (RoC).
The same story also said that over the last three years, the airline has given Rs 1,000 crore in dividends to its promoters.
In today’s interaction, Bhatia said “it is not going to happen tomorrow” to a question on whether the company was going public. “May be at some point, although not imminent,” he was quoted as saying by agencies. Bhatia also said that he was not afraid of competition, with reference to the imminent launch of two new airlines — AirAsia and Tata-SIA. “We welcome the competition. But India is an enormously underserved market, and there is room for every one to survive,” he added.
IndiGo plans to expand fleet with smaller aircraft | Firstpost
