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IndiGo applies for A330 traffic rights to European hubs?
February 2nd 2018
Indian low-cost carrier, IndiGo Airlines, has applied for traffic rights from Delhi to London, Paris, Madrid and Hong Kong, using A330 aircraft, India’s Business Standard has reported. Read More » The budget airline, now India’s largest carrier, has declined to comment on the report.
Last December, India’s Economic Times, citing IndiGo sources, said the LCC was considering an order for 50 wide body Airbus aircraft. Several weeks before the December report, IndiGo president, Aditya Ghosh, said the budget airline was keen on taking over Air India’s international network and fleet if the government would absorb the majority of the Star Alliance member’s massive debt.
If IndiGo has indeed applied for A330 traffic rights to Europe and Hong Kong, it would confirm other reports that suggested the LCC’s interest in Air India had cooled. In December, the IndiGo chief said: "We are not going to take on debts and liabilities (for acquiring Air India) that could not be supported by the new restructured operations. Let me be very clear. If it is not profitable and does not add value to our employees, customers and shareholders, we will not embark on this journey.”
In an earnings call with investors last week, Ghosh reiterated that IndiGo planned to enter the long-haul market one way or another. “We will explore the long-haul opportunity with or without Air India,” he said. IndiGo operates 120 A320ceo and 32 A320neo and has 405 A320neo and 25 A321neo on order from Airbus.
