Indigo must decide on the faulty engine by January 31.
Indigo has ordered 300 new A320 Neo aircraft from Airbus.
Following internal conflicts and quarterly financial losses, Indigo Airlines has now received a warning from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA has directed Indigo to include new A-320 Neo aircraft in its fleet, replacing the older ones. This directive could impact Indigo's expansion plans.
Decision Required by January 31
Indigo's older A-320 Neo aircraft were grounded due to issues with their Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines. Previously, the DGCA had instructed Indigo to either remove all 97 A-320 Neo aircraft with faulty engines from operations or be prepared to ground them by January 31.
According to a DGCA official, Indigo has not made adequate efforts to complete the required actions on time. In response, Indigo stated that its current flight schedule remains intact, and steps are being taken to comply with the DGCA's directives. Aircraft grounded with P&W engines will only be operational again once the engines have been replaced.
Impact on Indigo
The DGCA's directive may affect Indigo's expansion plans as the company might need to deploy incoming A-320 Neo aircraft on existing routes. Recently, Indigo placed an order with Airbus for 300 new A320 Neo family aircraft, marking the largest order received by Airbus from a single airline. According to Reuters, this order exceeds 2.3 trillion rupees.
Troubles for Indigo Continue
In recent years, Indigo has faced several challenges. Internal disputes among the airline's promoters have drawn attention, and significant losses in quarterly financial results have also posed setbacks for the airline.
