BENGALURU- India’s LCC, IndiGo Airlines (6E), recently took a bold step into the widebody space by wet-leasing Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The airline initially planned to operate non-stop services from Delhi to key European cities. Starting in July, IndiGo planned to fly to Amsterdam (AMS) and Manchester (MAN) from Delhi and grow its international ambitions.
Delhi was chosen for its strategic location and passenger demand, with slots secured and bookings opened. For IndiGo, it was a clear signal of stepping beyond its traditional low-cost, narrow-body operations.
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalIndiGo 787 Hits Airspace Hurdles
In May, a sudden closure of Pakistan’s airspace threw the initial plans into disarray. Flights from Delhi to Europe were now facing major rerouting challenges. The flights required detours over the Arabian Sea and Central Asia, adding significant flying time and fuel burn.
In response, IndiGo shifted its Dreamliner operations to Mumbai. The city’s westward location made the routes shorter and more economical. This allows the airline to stay on schedule and manage costs better while still launching its long-haul services.
Now, just as IndiGo begins to find its rhythm from Mumbai, a new challenge has emerged. Israel’s military strikes on Iran have triggered the closure of Iranian airspace. Iranian airspace is one of the most vital corridors for westbound traffic from India. With both Iran and Pakistan’s skies unavailable, Delhi-Europe flights are effectively a lot more challenging.
This double-layered airspace restriction is a serious operational hurdle. Flights now need to reroute further south, flying over the Arabian Sea, Oman, and Turkey. This detour will add over an hour of flying time and significantly impact the fuel and crew duty costs. For a cost-sensitive airline like IndiGo, this could make the Delhi-Europe flights via 787s temporarily unviable.
Photo: Bengaluru AirportWill IndiGo Shift Focus to Other Airports?
Given the airspace dynamics, IndiGo may now divert its upcoming 787 operations to other airports in India. IndiGo has the advantage of maintaining a strong presence in multiple airports in India.
Airports such as Mumbai and Bengaluru stand to benefit. Mumbai has already been proven successful with the current Dreamliner services to Europe. Mumbai is closer to alternate routing paths and better positioned to absorb the extra flying time.
Bengaluru, meanwhile, offers a premium traveler market, driven mostly by its strong tech presence. It also offers a strong South India catchment and favorable geographical positioning for long-haul flights.
The city also aligns well with IndiGo’s other international plans, which include Southeast Asia and Australia as future growth markets.
Photo: EurospotBottom Line
The current situation of airlines is a textbook example of how geopolitics plays an important role in aviation. Changing airspace conditions are forcing airlines like IndiGo to adapt in real time.
With more 787s expected in the coming weeks, IndiGo must now weigh its options. IndiGo will have to either delay the Delhi launches, increase Mumbai operations, or explore new long-haul points from Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
IndiGo has built a reputation on efficiency and high utilization over the years. Bringing that mindset to wide-body operations will take flexibility and quick decision-making.
If the Iranian airspace remains closed for an extended period, as many expect, IndiGo will have to continue adjusting. The airline might possibly have to reshape its European plans entirely in the short term. But if there’s one thing IndiGo has shown over the years, it’s the ability to pivot swiftly.
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