India’s low-cost carrier (LCC) IndiGo recently added Ras Al Khaimah as its 100th destination with a new daily direct flight between Mumbai and the Gulf city. Besides, IndiGo recently started a new daily direct flight from Hyderabad-Riyadh along with additional frequencies on Hyderabad-Doha and Mangalore-Dubai routes. These new routes and additional frequencies will enhance connectivity between India and the Middle East, the airline said.
Going forward, the airline has ambitious expansion plans along international routes by the end of this year. The airline said it is planning to launch flights within 6-7 hours of flight time from the four metro cities of India – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, and Chennai by mid-2024.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said: “As of now we operate 160 weekly flights between India and the UAE. What IndiGo has built in the last 16 years is incredible. It flies to 74 domestic and 26 international destinations with a total of 375 city pairs. We will further grow our network with more international connectivity and destinations. The first priority is to broaden our horizon.”
Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, IndiGo said: “We are pleased to strengthen our network by introducing new international flights and frequencies. The new connection to Riyadh will enhance business connectivity and easy access to tourist attractions.”
IndiGo says the Ras Al Khaimah flights are designed to cater to business and leisure travellers who are constantly on the lookout for new and affordable options.
IndiGo plans to add the A321XLRs to the fleet by mid-2024, meanwhile, it will focus on network expansion in neighboring countries like Bangladesh and China, the airline said in a statement.
Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, said: “We will stay true to our policy of being punctual and ensuring affordable fares. The growth potential for Indian aviation is massive. As of now, only about 7.5% of Indians fly by air. Only 6% of Indians have a passport. Even a single percentage point increase in this will lead to a massive jump in travel.”
Reacting to the competition from Tata-led Air India, Elbers said: “Competition is good (for the sector). It will lead to higher service standards. India is marching forward. At the end of the day, there are only 2 or 3 seat types you can buy, but the biggest differentiator will be people. People is where IndiGo has made a big difference for the last 16 years.”
IndiGo is currently India’s largest airline by domestic market share valuation and operates about 1600 flights daily.