IndiGo, India’s biggest airline, is set to embark on a massive international expansion, adding six new destinations in Africa and Central Asia to its network.

What Happened? The airline said it plans to introduce direct flights from Mumbai to Kenya’s Nairobi and Indonesia’s Jakarta in July or August, followed by connections from Delhi to Tbilisi, Georgia; Baku, Azerbaijan; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and Almaty, Kazakhstan.

These additions will take IndiGo’s total international destinations to 32 from 26, as it aims to meet the rising demand for international travel.

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As part of its expansion strategy, IndiGo will operate 174 new weekly international flights between June and September 2023, providing more options for travellers flying to and from India.

With a domestic market share of over 57% and a strong fleet of more than 300 aircraft operating more than 1,800 daily flights, IndiGo is bolstering its international presence amid strong demand and heightened competition from Tata Group’s Air India.

IndiGo faces competition from other airlines, including Air India, which is also ramping up its international expansion efforts.

IndiGo is bolstering its European connectivity through codeshare partnerships with Turkish Airlines, offering connections to 33 European destinations via Istanbul. The airline is also working towards securing regulatory approvals to offer connections to North America through the same partnership.

Price Action: Shares of IndiGo parent Interglobe Aviation were up 1.63% at ₹2,382.10 in late afternoon trade on Friday.

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