IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi Int'l) has announced it has placed a firm order with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for 300 A320neo Family aircraft.
The Indian low-cost carrier said in a stock market filing that the order comprises a mix of A320neo, A321neo, and A321neo(XLR) aircraft. As of September 30, 2019, IndiGo's Airbus order backlog totalled 191 A320neo and 144 A321neo.
“This order is an important milestone, as it reiterates our mission of strengthening air connectivity in India, which will in turn boost economic growth and mobility," Ronojoy Dutta, IndiGo's Chief Executive Officer, said. "India is expected to continue with its strong aviation growth and we are well on our way to build the world’s best air transportation system, to serve more customers and to deliver on our promise of providing low fares and a courteous, hassle-free experience to them."
According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, IndiGo operates twenty-two ATR72-600s, 127 A320ceo, eighty-nine A320neo, and seven A321neo.
Induction of the new generation jets has, however, not been a smooth process.
Last week, India's Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) warned IndiGo not to deploy any A320neo aircraft into service whose Pratt & Whitney powerplants have exceeded 3,000 hours of flying time or risk having the aircraft grounded. The regulator told the LCC that all 16 affected aircraft have to be fitted with at least one modified LPT engine within the next 15 days.
Then, earlier this month, Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, the LCC's President and Chief Operating Officer, told India's LiveMint that plans to more accelerate the roll-out of international routes would be curtailed given an added "three- to six-month" delay in the deliveries of A321neo.
“The delivery of A321neo planes are expected to slow down. They are made in Hamburg Finkenwerder where there are some (industrial) disturbances,” he said.
As an interim measure, IndiGo may look into short-term leasing options while it awaits its A321neo deliveries.