IndiGo is First Indian Airline to Acquire Airbus A320

Tuesday, 5th February 2013 at 02:45am

IndiGo is making history in the Indian aviation industry as the first local airline to acquire the modern aircraft with the latest fuel-saving technology from Airbus company, the A320neo.

The only distinguishing external feature of the technologically-advance aircraft from its older sister, the A320, is the "sharklet" wingtips which are designed to reduce drag. Its primary difference from the regular A320 is the use of bigger engines which are said to be more efficient, allowing the plane to save on fuel by as much as 15% as well as lower maintenance cost.

This new generation of fuel-efficient aircraft offers operators the flexibility of either maximizing their payload of over 450 kilograms or increasing flight range by 100 nautical miles on average. IndiGo has opted for the new A320 aircraft with "sharklet" features for future deliveries.

The carrier's president, Aditya Ghosh, said that their cheap tickets and optimum service are their main advantage over other airlines allowing them to grow and become the country's largest domestic airline. He also boasted that their fleet is the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the world today which allows them to save on fuel cost. The airline was founded and started operations in August of 2006 having its maiden flight from Delhi to Imphal.

In June 2005, IndiGo made a firm order of 100 all-Airbus A320s for its maiden operation the following year. It took delivery of its first aircraft on July 2006 and five more planes arrived before the year ended. In a little over a year since it started operations, in 2007, it already had 15 aircraft in its fleet.

The airline also holds the distinction as the first airline in India to place an order of 150 aircraft at once, all A320neo, unprecedented in the country's aviation history. It has also ordered 30 more regular A320s in 2011.

According to Airbus CEO, John Leahy, IndiGo is going to save on fuel cost with the plane's "sharklet" device, especially now that the jet fuel prices are constantly increasing. He said that their company is very pleased to have IndiGo as their customers.

IndiGo is India's largest budget carrier which operates on an all-Airbus fleet. It started operations in 2006 and today, it boasts of 62 all-Airbus fleet. The airline has an outstanding order of 280 A320 aircraft, 130 of which are A320neo.

By: Pete Lee.