Low-cost carrier IndiGo is deliberating on the right formula which will make widebody aircraft a viable option for the airline, CEO Ronojoy Dutta said at its 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday.
“We are investigating it thoroughly. We meet every Tuesday to talk about the widebody. It is not an easy proposition. You do need a business class to make the widebody work. We cannot copy anyone because no one has succeeded in terms of widebody low cost,” Mr. Dutta said. The airline is also examining inducting the A321 XLR (extra long range) aircraft. The CEO said that the shortcoming with the XLR was that it cannot reach London, a destination the airline plans to connect in future. “The XLR is a great aeroplane, but it cannot reach London. With the current range, we cannot reach Seoul. With the XLR we can reach Seoul.”
IndiGo has no widebody aircraft in its fleet and offers only economy class to passengers. The airline has a total of 235 planes, which include A320 ceo, A320 neo, A321 and ATR turboprop.
The AGM was called to seek shareholders’ votes on amending the Articles of Association of IndiGo’s parent company InterGlobe Aviation Limited. This, to expand the Board of Directors from six members to 10 following Rakesh Gangwal’s complaint to the SEBI about corporate misgovernance and “unusual” powers enjoyed by co-founder Rahul Bhatia. The outcome of the voting process is expected to be known later this week.
Mr. Gangwal was not present at Tuesday’s meeting. Remarks made at the AGM suggested that the sparring co-founders were yet to bury the hatchet. To a question on mending of fences between the two partners, there were no straight answers on a thaw in the relationship. Mr. Bhatia just replied, “I think his [Mr. Gangwal’s] actions will speak louder than his website over time.”
