Now, IndiGo Expands International Reach With A350 Orders, Boosting Routes To Europe, North America and Beyond, Here’s All You Need To Know

Published on July 10, 2025

Expansion of International Routes and Destinations

The addition to the fleet directly translates to its future plans for expanded global reach. The airline has in the recent past launched direct flights from Mumbai to Manchester, to Amsterdam, and has plans to add 10 more overseas destinations by March 2026. The intended places range from the world’s major cities including London, Athens, and Copenhagen, and they all support IndiGo being aggressively competitive in the global travelling space.
IndiGo has been continuously modernizing its fleet to supplement these expansions, and the airline has plans to operate more intercontinental routes. With its rapidly growing global network, the airline has targets to meet rising needs for global connectivity, both for business travelers and tourists. With IndiGo’s expanding global footprint, the advanced technology and range of the A350 make the aircraft the perfect one for these long routes.

Logical Development for IndiGo’s Fleet

According to Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Airbus’s Executive Vice President of Sales, the IndiGo order to expand its aircraft fleet seems natural in the face of the growing role of the airline in world air travel. “They themselves will order more aircraft. because they think they will need more aircraft. And so, the (Indian) market is such that one easily understands there is a need for drastically more advanced aircraft,” said de Saint-Exupery. The long-range capabilities of the A350, its fuel efficiency, and its passenger amenities make the aircraft the ideal addition to the IndiGo aircraft fleet.
IndiGo initially ordered 30 A350-900 aircraft in 2024 in firm order, with initial deliveries to start in mid-2027. The A350-900 is a multi-purpose wide-body aircraft and will greatly enhance IndiGo’s long-haul operations. Its latest technology with the latest fuel-efficient engines will reduce the airline’s environmental impact in addition to the added passenger comfort. The quieter engine and larger windows of the A350 also provide an enhanced in-flight experience to the passengers on long-duration journeys.

The A350-1000 Variant And Its Potential Role

Even though the priority at the moment is the A350-900, whose entry is certified in IndiGo’s order book, the future for placing the larger variant A350-1000 order is speculative. The larger range and larger capacity A350-1000 variant has in the meantime been ordered only by Air India from the Indian airlines. Only time will confirm whether the future IndiGo orders would include the placement of the order for the larger variant A350-1000, as the company continues to adapt to the evolving needs of the travelling world.
The larger A350-1000 variant would be a prudent addition to IndiGo’s fleet in the future if the airline increases its operations on the long-haul routes to the cities requiring more capacity. The larger seating capacity and high-density route optimization of the A350-1000 make it the appropriate aircraft for airlines who want to maximize passenger capacity as well as range. IndiGo’s acquisition of the variant has been the topic of speculation, but it is certainly one to watch as the airline’s fleets continue to grow.

Wide-Body and Narrow-Body A321XLR Plans

In addition to the A350s, IndiGo is also expanding its fleet by incorporating leased wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 787-9, flown on lease from Norse Atlantic Airways. Wide-body aircraft remain significant in IndiGo’s near-term international expansion, as they would allow the airline to address long-haul routes prior to deliveries of its new A350 aircraft. The Boeing 787-9 has the capacity for long-haul flying, delivering travelers efficiency and comfort, and its inclusion in IndiGo’s fleet would most likely allow the airline to catch up with demand in the near term.
Besides, IndiGo is preparing to induct the A321XLR narrow-body long-range aircraft, strengthening its long-haul operations further. The A321XLR has been tailored for short- and medium-haul missions, but its extensive range makes it suitable for some long-haul missions as well. The aircraft is expected to be inducted in late 2025 or early 2026 and will complement the larger A350s in IndiGo’s international operations.

IndiGo’s Order Book and Present Fleet

IndiGo’s current booked order list is formidable, with 1,400 aircraft ordered in total. This includes a record order for 500 Airbus A320-family aircraft ordered in June 2023, the largest single order ever booked by a commercial airline. Over 455 of these aircraft have been delivered to date, indicating IndiGo’s commitment to modernizing and expanding its fleet.
The buying of the A350s, along with the A321XLR and leased-wide body aircraft, is IndiGo’s diversification plan for the fleet in order to cater to domestic and international demand. With its extensive range of aircraft, the various market sectors from the domestic short-haul to the long-haul international flights will be catered to by IndiGo.

Strategic Importance of the Indian Aviation Market

India’s air market is one of the fastest growing in the world because of its rapidly growing economy, expanding middle class, and booming interest in domestic and global air travel. IndiGo, the largest Indian carrier, is best positioned to take advantage of these trends. With additional Indian travelers seeking global flying opportunities, and Indian business connections with export markets intensifying, the demand for long-range advanced aircraft such as Airbus’s A350 will continue to increase.
Benoit de Saint-Exupery, who is an Airbus employee, pointed out the Indian market is due for larger aircraft because its expansion has been extremely rapid and because India is in the center of the Asia region. Airbus already has strong demand for its aircraft in India, not just for the larger aircraft like the A350 but for the smaller regional aircraft like the A220. Since India’s air business is ongoing and growing, airlines like IndiGo are in position to catalyze the growth.

Conclusion: IndiGo’s Bright Future in Global Aviation

IndiGo’s expansion plans, reflected in its future order for 40 additional Airbus A350 jets, reflect the company’s bold ambitious agenda to grow its international presence. The constant addition to its fleet by the airline, both in the form of wide-body jets like the Boeing 787-9 and narrow-body jets like the A321XLR, would support its long-haul operations and help it service surging demand for flying around the world.
As the Indian air market expands at lightning speed and IndiGo continues to modernize its fleets, the company is bound to be one of the leading players in the world’s air business. By augmenting its fleets and intensifying its international routes, IndiGo has been preparing for the future to emerge as one of the world’s premier airlines.