Domestic cargo stays central to IndiGo as international routes grow

IndiGo is expanding its footprint with new long-haul widebody flights to Europe, while its robust domestic network remains the cornerstone of its cargo strategy. Currently, international cargo accounts for approximately 11% of the airline’s total cargo volume.

IndiGo will end its Boeing 777-300ER flights to Istanbul from Delhi and Mumbai by August 31, 2025. The airline had wet-leased two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines in 2023 to maintain connectivity to Istanbul amid a significant grounding of its Airbus A320neo fleet due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues, and the technical limitations of operating its own narrowbody A321 aircraft on the long-haul route. The decision to terminate the wet-lease agreement follows a directive from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which granted a final three-month extension but refused to renew the lease beyond August, citing national security concerns.

IndiGo is exploring new opportunities to enhance domestic cargo flows by establishing direct point-to-point connections between smaller cities, aiming to reduce reliance on major hubs and optimize underused belly space while tapping into growing demand across India’s tier-two and tier-three markets.

On the international front, IndiGo launched its first direct long-haul widebody flight from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam from July 1, and July 2, 2025 respectively. The airline has leased six Boeing 787s from Norse Atlantic, with one aircraft in service and more joining later this year. IndiGo’s expansion into long-haul markets will open up significant belly cargo capacity and that the airline plans to expand further into Europe with Copenhagen and London as the next destinations by mid-October this year. The scale of IndiGo’s upcoming widebody operations, IndiGo will begin inducting the Airbus A350 in early 2028, following a firm order for 30 aircraft placed in April 2024 and a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 30 more, announced during the International Air Transport Association Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently in Delhi