‘India’s aviation market is exceptionally competitive and dynamic’, states IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers

IndiGo, which commenced operations more than 17 years ago, currently operates nearly 1,900 daily flights with a fleet of over 320 planes, holding a dominant domestic market share of over 63 percent. In recent months, the airline has also expanded its services to include international destinations such as Nairobi and Almaty.

In light of these developments, Elbers emphasized that India’s aviation market is exceptionally competitive and dynamic. He stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between ticket prices and operational costs to ensure the sustainability of airlines. IndiGo’s strategy focuses on offering affordable fares that vary with seasonal fluctuations. The airline serves 32 international and 81 domestic destinations.

While highlighting the growth potential of India’s aviation sector, Elbers noted that IndiGo is currently in a “maturing phase” and emphasized the need for establishing aviation hubs in underserved areas of India. He expressed the airline’s ambition to expand globally.

Regarding the strategy for internationalization, Elbers outlined three key elements: expanding the airline’s own network, introducing new routes between existing cities (such as Bhubaneswar and Singapore), and enhancing partnerships. IndiGo recently announced a codeshare partnership with British Airways and maintains similar agreements with several other airlines.

When questioned about the possibility of acquiring more wide-body aircraft to address P&W engine issues, Elbers stated that while it is not currently part of their plans, they are not ruling out any possibilities. He emphasized the importance of strong collaboration with stakeholders in developing aviation hubs and addressing operational challenges.