Indian Airline Which Made Record-500 Aircraft Orders Starts Nairobi Direct Flights

Indigo, which is India's largest airline by market share, began its inaugural flight from Mumbai to Nairobi on Saturday, August 5.

Indigo's first flight landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Saturday morning carrying 173 passengers on board.

The airline, which seeks to capitalize on business and leisure travel between India and Kenya, will deploy an Airbus A320neo on the route. The flight will have 186 economy-class seats.

"Kenya's open skies policy in the aviation sector has helped in easing access to our airports for international airlines to enhance the flow of tourists and open the country for business. This morning, joined by my Tourism counterpart CS Penninah Malonza we received the inaugural direct flight of Indigo Airlines from India," stated Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen who welcomed the debut flight at JKIA.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaking during the arrival of the inaugural IndiGo direct flight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on August 5, 2023. /KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN

According to the CS, the launch of Air Indigo to Kenya will promote tourism, enhance trade and investment in the country and offer fair market competition for businesses in our aviation sector.

“The launch of this direct flight between Mumbai and Nairobi marks a pivotal milestone in the long-standing friendship between our two great nations,” Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage Peninah Malonza said during the reception ceremony at the JKIA.

“This strategic air link will foster increased business collaboration, cultural exchange, and tourism opportunities, serving as a bridge to bring our countries even closer together."

On his part, Pieter Elbers, chief executive officer, IndiGo, said, “First time for IndiGo touching the African soil and we could not have chosen a better location to do so. Kenya, known for its ethereal wildlife beauty and historical landmarks, is intent on enhancing its economic growth through tourism, cultural exchange, and collaboration in various fields.

"This aligns with our overall vision of providing accessibility and connecting people with places. This new route further enhances connectivity in the region as envisioned in IndiGo’s international growth strategy.”

Nairobi now becomes the budget carrier’s 27th international and 105th overall destination in the 6E network as Indigo seeks to venture into overseas expansion from conquering the Indian domestic market.

IndiGo Profile

By both number of passengers carried and fleet size, IndiGo is India’s largest airline. First commencing operations on August 4, 2006, the low-cost carrier grew steadily ever since, becoming one of the most preferred airlines in the region, connecting upwards of 75 Indian cities and 25 international destinations.

The airline took advantage of India's vast population of over 1.4 billion people and demand for affordable travel when it ordered its first Airbus A320-200 on July 28, 2006, and began flying the following week. This was just the first of 100 aircraft from a firm order the year prior, and the young carrier’s fleet continued to grow.

Less than four years after starting operations, IndiGo became one of the largest Indian airlines by market share, overtaking Air India’s place just behind two previous major carriers, Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways.

2012 marked the year it took delivery of its 50th airliner, became the most profitable carrier in the country, and jumped up to second place in the Indian aviation market.

An IndiGo aircraft arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on August 5, 2023. /KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN

Records Broken

In December 2019, the carrier became the first Indian carrier to operate over 1,500 daily flights and maintain a fleet size of over 250 aircraft.

IndiGo’s first order was placed at the 2005 Paris Air Show for 100 Airbus A320-200s, with full delivery completed ahead of schedule, though by the end of 2014, it had already placed another order for 180 A320neos a couple of years prior.

In 2015, the carrier placed the largest single order at the time for 250 more A320neo family aircraft. According to One Mile At A Time, these 430 A320neos comprised 280 Airbus A320s and 150 A321s.

In October 2019, IndiGo placed yet another order with Airbus for an astonishing 300 A320neo family aircraft on top of what they already were on track to receive, comprising a mix of A320neos, A321neos, and A321XLRs.

On June 19, 2023, IndiGo broke another record that made headlines in global aviation by placing a firm order for 500 A320 Family aircraft, setting the record for the biggest single purchase agreement in the history of commercial aviation.

The latest agreement took the total number of Airbus aircraft on order by IndiGo to 1,330, establishing its position as the world’s biggest A320 Family customer.

An IndiGo aircraft arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on August 5, 2023. /KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN