Air India is rapidly catching up with Indigo in terms of fleet expansion, signaling intensifying competition in the Indian aviation market. With the delivery of a new aircraft this week, Air India is making headway in its transformation strategy, which includes modernizing its fleet.
Air India's Expansion and Modernization
Air India's fleet expansion is a multi-faceted approach. It involves inducting new aircraft, retrofitting existing ones, and streamlining operations. In 2023, Air India placed an order for 470 aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus. This order includes Airbus A320neo family, A350s, Boeing 737 MAX, 787-9s, and 777-9 aircraft.
As of October 2025, Air India operates a fleet of 189 narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, including Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo, A350, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787. The airline is also retrofitting its legacy fleet, investing $400 million to upgrade the cabins and interiors of older A320neo and Boeing widebody aircraft.
Air India Express is also set to expand its fleet, with plans to add 20-24 new aircraft in 2026. This will increase its fleet size from the current 110 aircraft. The new aircraft are part of the 470-plane order placed by the Air India Group. These will focus on strengthening its domestic network, particularly metro-to-tier 2 and tier 3 city routes.
IndiGo's Fleet Growth
IndiGo has also been aggressively expanding its fleet to meet growing demand and expand its network. As of September 2025, IndiGo operates 397 aircraft, including Airbus A320-200, A320neo, A321neo, and ATR 72-600 aircraft. The airline also has a substantial order book, with nearly a thousand aircraft yet to be delivered since June 2023. This includes a mix of A320NEO, A321NEO, and A321XLR aircraft.
In March 2025, IndiGo began operating damp-leased Boeing 787-9 from Norse Atlantic Airways to augment its long-haul fleet. In April 2024, IndiGo placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, marking its entry into the wide-body aircraft market. In June 2025, IndiGo doubled its wide-body aircraft order by ordering an additional 30 Airbus A350 aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027. By 2030, IndiGo anticipates surpassing a fleet size of 600 aircraft, with one new aircraft joining the fleet every week throughout FY26.
Competitive Landscape
The fleet expansions of both Air India and IndiGo reflect the intense competition in the Indian aviation market. IndiGo is the largest airline in India and the second-largest in Asia. Air India, under the ownership of the Tata Group, is also undergoing a significant transformation. Both airlines are vying for a larger share of the rapidly expanding Indian aviation market.
IndiGo's move to induct wide-body aircraft aligns with its ambitious global expansion strategy, including plans to launch long-haul flights. Air India's widebody fleet expansion is also underway, with the airline expecting to add a new widebody every six weeks in 2026, including two A350-1000 aircraft.
Challenges and Opportunities
Both Air India and IndiGo face challenges related to delivery schedules due to global supply chain disruptions and order backlogs. However, the expansion of their fleets presents significant opportunities for growth and increased market share. As the Indian aviation market continues to grow, the competition between Air India and IndiGo is expected to intensify, leading to better services and more choices for passengers.
