Factbox: IndiGo CEO Elbers' exit puts India's competitive airline industry in focus

Spicejet

10/03/2026 15:41

Adds details on Walsh appointment.

March 31 (Reuters) - Indian budget carrier IndiGo INGL.NS on Tuesday appointed International Air Transport Association head Willie Walsh as its new chief executive, just weeks after the abrupt departure of former CEO Pieter Elbers.

Walsh is expected to join IndiGo no later than August 3, the airline said in a statement.

As India's largest carrier brings in a new chief, here's a look at the country's airlines:

INDIGO

IndiGo had a market share of nearly 64% in January and a fleet of 440 aircraft as of end-December.

It operates more than 2,200 daily flights, connecting 95 domestic and more than 40 international destinations.

Over the last few years, IndiGo has expanded its international network, including the launch of long-haul flights to Europe using aircraft 'wet-leased' from Norway's Norse Atlantic NORSE.OL. Wet leases include crew as well as aircraft.

IndiGo placed a record order for 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft under Elbers, as well as its first order for A350 long-haul, wide-body jets, and departed from its no-frills strategy with the launch of a premium cabin.

AIR INDIA

The Air India Group, with a market share of about 27%, has a combined fleet of 290 aircraft, including 104 at its budget carrier Air India Express.

Air India, owned by India's Tata Group and Singapore Airlines SIAL.SI, operates non-stop flights to 42 international destinations across five continents.

It is in the midst of a multimillion-dollar overhaul of its older jets' seats and interiors.

AKASA AIR

A relatively new entrant, Akasa Air has a market share of nearly 5%, making it India's third-largest airline.

It has a fleet of 37 aircraft. Besides connecting Indian cities, it also flies to locations in the Middle East, including Jeddah, Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi, as well as Phuket in Thailand.

SPICEJET

Budget carrier SpiceJet SPJT.BO has a market share of about 4% with an operational fleet of 33 aircraft as of end-December.

It mostly operates domestic flights, with a few international destinations such as Dubai.

 (Reporting by Nandan Mandayam in Bengaluru. Editing by Mark Potter)

 ((Hritam.Mukherjee@thomsonreuters.com; X: @MukherjeeHritam;))