India civil aviation minister Scindia hails IndiGo’s record 500-jet order with Airbus

Scindia highlighted that this transaction, following Air India’s order for 470 aircraft (250 with Airbus and 220 with Boeing), sets yet another landmark for India.

• Shubham
• 20 June, 2023

Follow Us

By: Shubham Ghosh

INDIAN CIVIL aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has praised the recent deal between IndiGo and Airbus, hailing it as a significant milestone in India’s civil aviation sector. IndiGo, in one of the largest-ever aircraft purchases by an airline, announced its firm order to acquire 500 narrow-body planes from Airbus.

Scindia highlighted that this transaction, following Air India’s order for 470 aircraft (250 with Airbus and 220 with Boeing), sets yet another landmark for India, representing the largest-ever recorded order by a carrier with any aircraft manufacturer worldwide.

The minister emphasised the multiplier effect of investments in the civil aviation sector, stating that every dollar invested yields growth results that are three times higher. Furthermore, he explained that civil aviation has both direct and indirect multiplier effects, with each dollar invested generating 3.1 dollars (£2.4) in terms of new growth and job creation. For every direct job in civil aviation, an additional 6.1 jobs are created within the sector.

The minister highlighted the remarkable growth of the airline industry, with the fleet size expanding from 400 in 2014 and experiencing a 75 per cent growth. He also pointed out the emergence of numerous countrywide and regional carriers. Additionally, Scindia emphasized that while the focus is on expanding the fleet over the next seven to ten years, efforts are also being made to expand infrastructure footprints to support this growth.

The IndiGo-Airbus deal, valued in the billions of dollars, comes just months after Air India’s substantial orders for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. This order from IndiGo represents the largest-ever aircraft order placed by any airline with Airbus.

Overall, Scindia’s remarks underscore the significant strides made by the Indian civil aviation sector, both in terms of fleet expansion and the economic impact through investments and job creation. The IndiGo-Airbus deal further solidifies India’s position in the global aviation industry.

(With agency inputs)