On the heels of making the big move towards inducting wide body aircraft, in its 18th year in operation, Indigo is ushering a new era for the airline and its 100 million+ annual customers. India’s blue-chip airline has announced its much awaited business class, a loyalty programme – coming soon after it announced its move to go beyond the single aisle low cost configuration. The airline gets ready for its next big change in its evolution – giving India new wings.
The 18th anniversary itself was celebrated at the iconic Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with an audience comprising dignitaries across travel community, partners, investors, financial community, and IndiGo’s leadership.
Over the past 18 years, the airline has both revolutionized and democratized air travel in India. Its amazing journey has been unprecedented, and continues to be giving wings to the nation by connecting people and aspirations. Flying to 88 destinations with over 400 domestic routes, giving access to millions of first-time flyers and providing connectivity to all large, medium, and smaller cities the airline also serves 33 cities and over 100 international routes, today. Soon it will be adding Jaffna as its 34th international destination and with another 6/7 later this financial year, IndiGo will cross the mark of 40 international destinations soon.
Over the last two years, the airline has already taken tangible steps in defining the next phase of growth towards becoming a global aviation player. These include placing the largest ever single aircraft order of 500 aircraft, introduction of XLRs in 2025, and the momentous order for the widebody A350-900, expected to start delivering in 2027. These steps will enable IndiGo to double in scale and size by end of the decade.
A Business Class: A Step towards inducting the wide body and flying long haul
IndiGo announced ‘IndiGoStretch’ – a tailor-made business product on the busiest and business routes of the country, redefining business travel in India. IndiGo Stretch is a coupe-style, 2-seat wide bay, and crafted to provide customers with a relaxed and comfortable journey.
Along with specially curated healthy meal options from Oberoi Catering Services, the airline has partnered with the best in business to design the premium seats that will have a spacious pitch of 38 inches and a width of 21.3 inches so that customers can sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. IndiGo Stretch’s seats come with a six-way adjustable headrest with neck support, 5” deep recline to relax, electronic device holder, 60-watt USB-Type C power supply, and a three-pin universal power outlet to stay charged during the journey.
IndiGo Stretch customers will also enjoy a host of complimentary benefits such as no convenience fee, specially curated vegetarian meal box, wide choice of beverages, and advance seat selection at no additional charge along with priority check-in and anytime boarding.
IndiGo Stretch cabin will feature 12 seats in a 2-2 configuration, offering space and comfort. The 6Ecabin will provide 208 seats, preserving our current seating layout, including the XL sears in the middle of the aircraft.
RECARO R5 seats for A321NEO Business Class Cabin
The airline has partnered with RECARO Aircraft Seating to equip its upcoming A321neo business cabins with the award-winning R5 seats. The RECARO R5 seats will offer advanced comfort and robust functionality, featuring a 38-inch pitch and a customized, ergonomic design, lightweight design. Additionally, the aircraft will feature the RECARO R2 seats in economy class.
A total of 45 Shipsets have been ordered to meet this upgrade, with each A321neo aircraft featuring 12 business class seats and 208 economy class seats. Aircraft deliveries are scheduled to begin in Q4 2024, and all business class installations are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The R5 seats are distinguished by customized diamond pattern quilted dress covers and advanced comfort cushions. The unique backrest with privacy wings and oversized centre console offering storage for small items enhances the flying experience for business class passengers on short and medium-haul flights.
A Loyalty program: another step towards growing its profile
The airline also launched its much-awaited loyalty program, IndiGo BluChip. It was perhaps time in IndiGo’s evolution to recognize and reward its most frequent flyers through its new loyalty program. This program will not only provide recognition for these loyal flyers but also the fastest way for them to earn free flight on the vast IndiGo network. It has been on the cards for some time, the decision has been long awaited.
IndiGo customers who become members of the program will be able to accumulate IndiGo BluChips on every IndiGo flight, based on their spend. Members will also enjoy enhanced travel experiences with exclusive benefits, as they effortlessly upgrade to higher loyalty tiers. The program offers the highest rewards per spend on flights and ensures hassle-free redemption on every IndiGo flight up to the last seat available, 365 days of the year. Additionally, earned IndiGo BluChips never expire for active members.
Members will earn more IndiGo BluChips when booking directly on the IndiGo website and mobile app and review of tiers for upgrades will occur daily, as opposed to a fixed anniversary. Furthermore, five nominees can benefit from the IndiGo BluChips earned by a member and redeem them on IndiGo flights. The program is designed on the simple concepts of easy to earn, easy to burn, real-time redemption, and lifetime validity for active members.
Along with the aircraft order from Air India, the two airlines will expectedly usher a new era for an India led aviation growth in our country.
