The start of a global rise

Earlier this week, Indigo transformed a new page during its almost 19 years of history. On July 1, its first long-haul flight established connectivity between Mumbai and Manchester. The next day, he landed in continental Europe, flying from Mumbai to Amsterdam for the first time.

The carrier will now operate on alternative days between the two routes, three times a week. Do not be fooled by the modest start – something much larger is in preparation.

Indigo has been plotting world domination for some time. Rahul Bhatia – CEO of the parent company Interglobe – brought the former chief of KLM, Pieter Elbers, on board in 2022. The file was to carry out the organization in his passage from a national and regional carrier to a real long -haul operator.

The airline ordered more than 60 Airbus A321 XLR planes, which should join the fleet later this year. He also ordered 30 A350-900 to Widebody Widebody in 2024, later the order at 60 jets.

But these plans go beyond planes. Last year, the airline launched a series of initiatives, including a loyalty program and a national business class product. Indigo has also confirmed that the upcoming XLRs will have 12 seats in business class adjusted in the factory on board.

Already the largest airline in India, Indigo was not going to wait until 2027 to enter his long-haul flight time. The carrier has become familiar with larger planes thanks to a rental agreement with the Turkish airlines. Boeing 777s have a dense configuration with only seven business class seats and an incredible economy class seat 531.

Indigo has now contracted Norse Atlantic Airways to rent six of their Boeing 787-9 up to 18 months. The first arrived in February and was transported by plane on the road loaded between Delhi and Bangkok for three months. Since this week, planes have been implemented to use better on European services.

Shake your roots without frills

With the introduction of Dreamliner Jets, Indigo approaches an airline with full service. It offers a new offer of products and services on these intercontinental flights, which are a taste of what passengers can expect the A350.

Elbers expressed that the on -board product must be “adjusted to the boom” and not just a copy of everything that already exists. This was obvious when the Stretch Indigo Domestic product launched, where the airline offers no access to living room or hot meal, which, according to him, are not necessary for short flights.

Indigo now has a different state of mind at stake. Always anchored in its “form-up” mentality, the airline has decided to offer hot meals aboard its new long-haul flights. The airline also integrates into Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Air France-KLM to provide easy transfers to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The objective is to provide passengers with simple connections in the United States and Europe. A complete codes agreement should be posted shortly.

More advantages than expected?

The generous nature of its indigo stretch product “Value-For-Money” surprised it. The Nordic Atlantic planes have only reclining seats, but these are delivered with a generous seat step.

In practice, this allows Indigo to offer something closer to business class, although without lies. The airline has 56 seats in the extensible cabin of the 787.

Indigo also offers a living room access to both ends of the route – unusual for a carrier known for strict costs control, these upgrades signal a desire to compete on comfort as well as the price. Premium customers also have a large luggage allowance that reflects the inherited commercial class and more than 200 hours of flight entertainment. There are five choices of meals (two internationals, two Indians and one vegans) for stretch customers and unlimited drinks (including alcohol).

Elbers has confirmed that the airline will not offer champagne and caviar, but the restoration of the airline, outsourced to the Oberoi flight services, clearly strikes above its weight.

Elsewhere, there are no pleasure kits, but there is a “basket of amenities”, which includes dental kits and compression socks. A plush pillow, with a map of the globe and a blue point marking the seat of Indigo in Delhi NCR, is also available for extensible passengers.

In a nod to the KLM days of Elbers, the airline also offers warm superimpositions that passengers allow them to take them and reuse. There are 18 models available, customers encouraged to collect them all, as is KLM done with Delft ceramic houses.

Further on the plane, Indigo offers passengers in economics two hot meals. Alcoholic beverages and overlays are available for purchase.

The airline is currently estimating its European flights around 30% cheaper than comparable one-shop options via the Middle East. There is no direct competition on the road from Mumbai to Manchester, but KLM operates towards Amsterdam.

What’s waiting: American roads and the intrigue A350

When asked if it was the final definition of the product which would reflect on the new A350s, Elbers insisted that this was not the case. He refused to develop more, but he leaves open the possibility that Indigo could consider a configuration to three cabins, with the economy, the premium economy and the business class.

Indigo representatives aboard the inaugural flight suggested to Skift that the airline will eventually look beyond Europe and envisage flights to the United States.

The occupation was low on the first flights, but indigo is not so worried. He knows that a new route can take time to warm up, especially since the trip to Europe generally involves visas.

The airline has already confirmed that reservations seem stronger in the coming weeks, and by connecting to its strategic link with transatlantic partners such as Delta and KLM, another elevator is expected.

Although Indigo’s first European roads do not directly challenge the India Air network, it remains to be seen how many people will go from a full product inherited to a slightly lower offer, in exchange for lower prices.

Air India operates flights between Delhi (rather than Mumbai) and Amsterdam with the Boeing 787. However, this plane experienced its problems with common non -functional entertainment screens and an obsolete cabin.

As is customary for an inherited carrier, Air India offers a complete set of meals and comfortable seats, but it does not offer the low prices found in Indigo. It remains to be seen how the carriers of the Middle East will react at the entrance to the Indigo, and if the ambitious Indian operator can keep traffic away as its network increases.

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