IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi Int'l) has abandoned plans to add widebody aircraft and will defer the launch of flights to Europe until it takes its first A321-200neo(XLR) narrowbodies starting in 2023, The Economic Times has reported.
"There is no precedent of low-cost carriers operating international flights on twin-aisle aircraft [or they] have not been successful even if they have. This is primarily because fundamentals for low-cost carriers do not work on a dual-aisle aircraft. Hence, we will be launching flights to Europe and others only on an A321neo(XLR)," an unnamed official at the LCC said.
IndiGo Airlines previously considered adding A330s to launch flights to destinations beyond the range of the A320-200neo and A321neo.
However, despite the change of plan regarding the type of aircraft used for long-haul services, IndiGo Airlines still intends to equip "around twenty" A321neo(XLR)s with a two-class configuration for these services. Currently, all 254 aircraft operated by the carrier are outfitted in a single-class all-economy layout, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.
The official underlined that while the A321neo(XLR) would have the range to operate from India to London and Tokyo, there were other interesting markets which have thus far attracted less attention.
"While everyone seems to be focused on Europe and London, we see a lot of market in Africa, China, and other parts of the world too. We will soon be announcing flights to Moscow," the source said.
IndiGo Airlines will also look at launching long-haul flights from secondary cities in India rather than from major gateways.
The airline is the world's largest customer for the A320neo Family. It already operates ninety-six A320neo and ten A321neo, and has a further 236 A320neo and 388 A321neo (including the extra-long-range variant) on firm order from Airbus.