IndiGo refocuses long-haul strategy amid cost pressures

Private sector airline Indigo will discontinue its wide-body operations and close a damp lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways by end October due to a challenging operating environment triggered by ongoing geopolitical tensions.

IndiGo’s flights between Mumbai and Amsterdam will change to Airbus A321XLR around that time, and the airline’s services to and from London Heathrow will be discontinued till its A350-900s are delivered.

As of 31 March 2026, the airline’s fleet comprised of 177 Airbus A320 neo, 168 Airbus A321 neo, one Airbus A321 XLR, 26 Airbus A320 CEO, 46 ATR aircraft, and three A321 passenger‑to‑freighter aircraft.

Additionally, the fleet included damp‑leased aircraft consisting of five Boeing 737, six Boeing 787, five Airbus A320 CEO, and four Airbus A321 neo aircraft.

Six Boeing 787 aircraft were acquired through an early 2025 damp lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways. The lease enabled IndiGo to commence services to markets in the UK and Europe, while assisting with operational capabilities, helping gain commercial expertise and customer insights.

“Over this period, the airline has been able to build critical competencies across long-haul network planning, customer experience, crew operations, maintenance, airport handling, revenue management, and international partnerships. The operating environment, however, has changed considerably since the programme was announced,” executives at the airline said in a statement.

The Board of InterGlobe Aviation appointed William Walsh as chief executive officer. He is expected to join on 3 August after stepping down as director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).