New Delhi: India’s largest airline IndiGo is looking to launch premium seating classes, hot meals and loyalty programs by the end of 2024. According to a report in Economic Times, indigoAccording to sources familiar with the matter, the move is part of a strategy to attract more business travelers and compete with Air India on international routes. The airline plans to modify 35 Airbus A321 aircraft with a dual-class configuration, including a premium cabin. Eight rows of seats, arranged two on each side.
“Those planes will be fitted with eight rows of extra legroom seating, giving guests 36 inches of legroom to stretch their legs or work comfortably,” a source told ET on condition of anonymity. currently, IndiGo’s Airbus A320 And A321 aircraft offer an average seat pitch of 30 inches. The airline has not yet finalized the additional charges for these premium seats, but customers opting for them can expect benefits like priority boarding, complimentary in-flight meals and greater flexibility in itinerary. An IndiGo spokesperson declined to comment on these plans.
Indigo’s current no-frills model, which includes dense cabin seating and additional charges for meals, priority boarding and seat allocation, has been successful domestically, helping it capture 60% market share. However, under the leadership of CEO Peter Albers and director Greg Sarestky, who joined from Air France-KLM in 2021, the airline is now aiming to expand its dominance on international routes. This includes the introduction of long-haul flights with Airbus A321 XLR aircraft from 2025, targeting European markets with flight times of more than seven hours. ET reports that these planes will also have business class seats and more legroom in economy class.
Albers had previously mentioned considering a dual-class seating arrangement but confirmed no final decision. “The pace of market development is very fast and we are keeping all options open. A lot of startups, new companies are being established in India and they will all go international. All of these require travel and at one point require a different category of travel,” he said.
A source familiar with the strategy told ET that a premium section would help IndiGo attract high-yield customers currently choosing rivals like Air India and Air India. Vistara, The airline aims to offer a business class product at lower fares than legacy airlines, taking advantage of its low unit cost advantage. Investors are watching this change carefully, hoping it will not lead to any compromise Indigo’s successful low-cost model, Aviation consultancy firm CAPA cautioned against overestimating premium traffic, which could lead to strategic errors in the transition from a low-cost to a hybrid airline model.
“Those planes will be fitted with eight rows of extra legroom seating, giving guests 36 inches of legroom to stretch their legs or work comfortably,” a source told ET on condition of anonymity. currently, IndiGo’s Airbus A320 And A321 aircraft offer an average seat pitch of 30 inches. The airline has not yet finalized the additional charges for these premium seats, but customers opting for them can expect benefits like priority boarding, complimentary in-flight meals and greater flexibility in itinerary. An IndiGo spokesperson declined to comment on these plans.
Indigo’s current no-frills model, which includes dense cabin seating and additional charges for meals, priority boarding and seat allocation, has been successful domestically, helping it capture 60% market share. However, under the leadership of CEO Peter Albers and director Greg Sarestky, who joined from Air France-KLM in 2021, the airline is now aiming to expand its dominance on international routes. This includes the introduction of long-haul flights with Airbus A321 XLR aircraft from 2025, targeting European markets with flight times of more than seven hours. ET reports that these planes will also have business class seats and more legroom in economy class.
Albers had previously mentioned considering a dual-class seating arrangement but confirmed no final decision. “The pace of market development is very fast and we are keeping all options open. A lot of startups, new companies are being established in India and they will all go international. All of these require travel and at one point require a different category of travel,” he said.
A source familiar with the strategy told ET that a premium section would help IndiGo attract high-yield customers currently choosing rivals like Air India and Air India. Vistara, The airline aims to offer a business class product at lower fares than legacy airlines, taking advantage of its low unit cost advantage. Investors are watching this change carefully, hoping it will not lead to any compromise Indigo’s successful low-cost model, Aviation consultancy firm CAPA cautioned against overestimating premium traffic, which could lead to strategic errors in the transition from a low-cost to a hybrid airline model.
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