IndiGo to initiate widebody aircraft on Delhi-Bangkok route ahead of schedule
February 25, 2025
Taking its promise of ‘India by IndiGo’ further, as part of its international expansion strategy, India’s largest airline is to deploy its recently-inducted Dreamliner aircraft on its daily Delhi-Bangkok route from 1 March 2025. The introduction of the leased 787-9 from Norse Atlantic precedes IndiGo’s delivery of XLRs in 2026 and 30 A350-900s from 2027.
Describing how the “early induction of [IndiGo’s] wide body aircraft” marks “a significant milestone,” IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers added: “As India’s aviation sector undergoes rapid transformation to keep pace with unprecedented growth in demand for travel, IndiGo is well-positioned to lead this expansion”.
The aircraft will then be redeployed to European routes later this summer, with the airline having promised to “unfold a new chapter in Indian aviation” just last week. In anticipation of its inaugural European services, IndiGo has already applied for slots at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport for daily flights from Mumbai and Delhi, with London and Paris also among potential destinations.
IndiGo will also be offering its ‘IndiGoStretch’ premium product on its upcoming route, allowing customers perks such as expanded meal options, priority check-in, advance seat selection and additional baggage allowance. “We are thrilled to introduce the comfort of IndiGoStretch on our regional international route, after the positive and encouraging feedback domestically,” continued Elbers. IndiGo’s 787 features 56 IndiGoStretch seats alongside 282 economy-class options.
The wet lease with Norse Atlantic was signed on February 7 and follows Norse Atlantic’s November 2024 confirmation of its intention to allocate six wet-leased aircraft with an undisclosed international airline. At the time, Norse Atlantic Airways founder and CEO Bjore Tore Larsen said he was looking forward to partnering with “one of the most reputable airlines in the world” and supporting IndiGo’s long-haul ambitions.
