Indigo gets nod to import 28 aircraft

Low-cost carrier IndiGo, which has the biggest domestic market share, would be adding 28 Airbus A320 aircraft to its fleet by end of next year with the civil aviation ministry allowing it to import the planes.

The airline with a 66-aircraft fleet said on Monday that it would be inducting 16 planes this year and the remaining 12 by 2014.

"IndiGo has been granted permission by the ministry of civil aviation to import 28 A320 aircraft in 2013 and 2014. This is yet another milestone that reaffirms IndiGo's long-term vision and commitment to India's aviation growth story," a statement from the airline said.

Last year, it had inducted 12 planes. The additional aircraft would enable IndiGo to enhance its network with more number of flights within India and abroad.

The unlisted airline, in a single largest order ever in terms of number of aircraft by an airline globally, had sought $16 million worth aircraft for deliveries between 2016-2025.

Delivery would begin after the 100 Airbus planes worth $6 billion, ordered by IndiGo in 2005, join its fleet by 2015.

The airline operates 422 daily flights connecting 33 domestic and five international destinations namely Bangkok, Dubai, Kathmandu, Muscat and Singapore.