India's average airfare levels have been competitive and are low compared to the global market, IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers said.
For the budget carrier, maintaining its cost leadership is the most important business factor. "Ticket prices should be a reflection of cost levels. IndiGo is expanding its foundation value of offering affordable rates," Elbers told NDTV Profit.
-
Indian Markets Turning Corner After Two Tough Years, Says Sandeep Tandon -
NDTV Profit Ignite 2026: Experts See Opportunity In Equities, Stay Bullish For Long-Term -
Buy Right, Sit Tight Does Not Work for Individual Stocks, Says Dinshaw Irani -
'Worst Is Behind': Quant MF Sees Market Bottom, Flags 'Extreme Euphoria' In Midcaps -
India's Mutual Fund Industry Could Become A $1 Trillion Opportunity, Say Fund Managers -
'Foreign Investors Are Baraatis': Raamdeo Agrawal's Take On LTCG Tax -
Stay Invested Through Market Cycles: Raamdeo Agrawal at NDTV Profit Ignite -
Ramesh Damani Remains Bullish On India For Next 20-30 Years, Sees Bargains Amid Market Weakness -
CAS Came After A Long Consultation Process: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFIT IGNITE -
Aim To Cut FPI Onboarding Time From Mth To Five Days: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFI
Airfares have become a topic of heated discussion in the country as passenger numbers soar and complaints on social media draw government attention. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has received industry pushback on its plans to look into granular data on ticket prices.
Also Read | Layoffs Are Rising In Tech, But These Skills Are Helping People Unlock Better Pay
Amid "ambitious" expansion into international routes, Elbers said IndiGo will offer business class service only on routes with promising demand.
He cited the example of Thailand, a popular tourist destination, where the airline is not offering business class service to Krabi, but to Bangkok which is doing very well.
The airline aims to increase its presence in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Europe, where deep-pocketed foreign rivals ferry more Indians than domestic carriers.
A rise in international sales also provides a natural hedge against foreign exchange turbulance. "We did some forex hedging last year, but hedging cannot be looked at on a sequential basis. We expect a different impact of forex in the fourth quarter compared to the third," Elbers said.
IndiGo has "ambitious" expansion into international routes, CEO Elbers said. (Photo: Vijay Sartape/ NDTV Profit)
Within India, the budget airline has introduced 'IndiGo Stretch' business class service on select few routes like Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Bengaluru.
"The occupancy levels on business class have been as per our expectations. We are working with partners to get our customers attached to this new product," Elbers said.
IndiGo is also working on its customer loyalty programme 'BluChip'.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
