IndiGo is expected to bring most of its grounded aircraft back into service by early next year, increasing its active fleet count by nearly 80 planes in FY26—double the average 40 aircraft it adds each year—a person aware of the development said.
Analysts said this could lead to softening of airfares, which have remained high due to shortage in supply of aircraft, but industry executives said the impact on fares may be limited as part of the increased capacity would be diverted to new and international routes.
India’s largest airline currently has a fleet of 434 active aircraft.
Around 70 IndiGo aircraft were grounded starting December 2023 after US-based RTX, which makes the Pratt & Whitney engine, found that there was a contamination of powder metal used to make the engine—a defect that could lead to the cracking of components.
Currently, the airline has around 40 aircraft on ground, as its chief financial officer Gaurav Negi told analysts at its March quarter earnings call on Wednesday.With Pratt's supply chain improving significantly and engines staying on wing without requiring repairing longer than initially anticipated, “it is expected that all aircraft will be out of grounding by the end of this year or early next year,” the person cited on top said.
Around 30 of these planes will join the airline’s fleet while 10 will be returned to lessors as their lease period will be over. “Along with the new addition, it will be a good boost to capacity,” the person added.
This year, IndiGo has so far added 14 new aircraft while it has returned around 11 planes to lessors. “There will be a gradual easing of capacity crunch as these planes come back and new planes are added,” an analyst tracking the sector said on condition of anonymity. A spokesperson for IndiGo didn’t reply to queries on the number of planes the airline will add but redirected to the latest capacity guidance.
DELIVERY DELAYS
CFO Negi told analysts that in FY26, the airline expects its capacity to grow by early double digits as compared to FY 25 while for the first quarter of FY 26, it expects capacity growth of mid-teens compared to the same period last year.
Analysts said this could lead to softening of airfares, which have remained high due to shortage in supply of aircraft, but industry executives said the impact on fares may be limited as part of the increased capacity would be diverted to new and international routes.
India’s largest airline currently has a fleet of 434 active aircraft.
Around 70 IndiGo aircraft were grounded starting December 2023 after US-based RTX, which makes the Pratt & Whitney engine, found that there was a contamination of powder metal used to make the engine—a defect that could lead to the cracking of components.
Currently, the airline has around 40 aircraft on ground, as its chief financial officer Gaurav Negi told analysts at its March quarter earnings call on Wednesday.With Pratt's supply chain improving significantly and engines staying on wing without requiring repairing longer than initially anticipated, “it is expected that all aircraft will be out of grounding by the end of this year or early next year,” the person cited on top said.
Around 30 of these planes will join the airline’s fleet while 10 will be returned to lessors as their lease period will be over. “Along with the new addition, it will be a good boost to capacity,” the person added.
This year, IndiGo has so far added 14 new aircraft while it has returned around 11 planes to lessors. “There will be a gradual easing of capacity crunch as these planes come back and new planes are added,” an analyst tracking the sector said on condition of anonymity. A spokesperson for IndiGo didn’t reply to queries on the number of planes the airline will add but redirected to the latest capacity guidance.
DELIVERY DELAYS
CFO Negi told analysts that in FY26, the airline expects its capacity to grow by early double digits as compared to FY 25 while for the first quarter of FY 26, it expects capacity growth of mid-teens compared to the same period last year.
