Singapore-headquartered BOC Aviation Limited and India‘s largest airline IndiGo have entered into a finance lease transaction involving 10 Airbus A320NEO aircraft to further expand its fleet, officials said on Wednesday. All 10 aircraft powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines are scheduled for delivery in 2023, said BOC Aviation.
“We are delighted to be embarking on another transaction with our long-time customer IndiGo, to enable the airline to expand its fleet with the latest technology aircraft,” said Steven Townend, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, BOC Aviation.
“This showcases our ability to deploy alternative financing structures, to continue our long-term sustainable growth,” he said.
“We are pleased to enhance our partnership with BOC Aviation with the lease agreement for these 10 aircraft,” said Riyaz Peer Mohamed, Chief Aircraft Acquisition and Financing Officer, IndiGo.
This extended collaboration with BOC Aviation is part of IndiGo’s expansion strategy across domestic and international markets.
Former pilots have taken to social media and newspaper columns to publicly raise concerns that airlines, though operating within regulatory frameworks, are stretching them to the brink as air travel booms in India. The sudden death last week of an IndiGo pilot heightened those worries although India’s biggest airline says he had a 27-hour break before duty and was in good health.
India is currently among the fastest-growing civil aviation markets in the world and these aircraft will help IndiGo consolidate its position in the region,” he said. BOC Aviation is a leading global aircraft operating leasing company with a fleet of 652 aircraft owned, managed and on order. Its owned and managed fleet was leased to 91 airlines in 42 countries and regions worldwide as of June 30, 2023. Meanwhile, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo) is amongst the fastest-growing low-cost carriers in the world.
With its fleet of over 300 aircraft, the airline is operating about 1,900 daily flights and connecting 79 domestic destinations and will soon further grow its footprint to 32 international destinations.
