The Bureau of Immigration has slapped a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on IndiGo for alleged visa-related violations.

In a regulatory filing, IndiGo’s parent InterGlobe Aviation said there is no material impact on financials, operations or other activities of the company due to the fine.

The penalty of Rs 1 lakh has been imposed by the Bureau of Immigration, which comes under the home ministry.

The communication regarding the penalty for alleged “visa-related violations” was received by the airline on June 11, as per the filing on Tuesday.

Specific details were not disclosed.

Explaining the delayed disclosure to the BSE, the company said it was “exploring possibilities for filing of appeal against the order”.

New Delhi:

After flying for nearly 18 years, the country’s largest airline IndiGo on Thursday announced it will introduce business class in flights this year, as the carrier seeks to provide more options for passengers amid rising economic growth.

The airline will launch a “tailor-made business product”, the details of which will be unveiled around August that will also mark the 18th anniversary of the carrier.

The latest announcement also comes less than a month after the profitable carrier said it would buy 30 wide-body aircraft.

“In a groundbreaking move to redefine business travel in India, IndiGo, India’s most preferred airline, announces the plan to launch a tailor-made business product for India’s busiest and business routes,” IndiGo said in a statement.

Currently, the airline only has economy class. It has a fleet of more than 360 aircraft and operates around 2,000 flights daily.

Emphasising that it is time to take the next step in its evolution, IndiGo said that considering India’s soaring economy and the evolving aspirations of Indian society, it is time for IndiGo to redefine premium travel in India, increasing the availability of this service for the nation.

“It will create a desired option for many who are aiming to travel business, perhaps for the first time in their lives,” the release said.

“This product will be available on the busiest, and business routes of the nation and will be operational before the end of this year. Coming August, around IndiGo’s anniversary, more details on product offering, launch date and routes will be unveiled,” the statement said.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said the airline is constantly looking at innovating service offerings.

“Over the past 18 years, India’s and IndiGo’s growth stories have been closely interlinked. We believe as India gears up to become the third largest economy in the world, it’s our privilege to provide the New India even more options to choose from as they travel business,” he added.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

An IndiGo passenger took to social media to recount her harrowing experience travelling by the airline. She stated that her flight was initially cancelled by the airline which cost her a lot and a day later, her flight was delayed.

The passenger, Swati Singh, took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Indigo flight cancellation cost me $$$$ and the manager response was-I have no option. What is India’s Aviation Minister doing?” She added in a follow-up post, “Hi, my pnr is GP5HGY and I had to miss my international flight to Seattle. This is making me think if I want to travel to India with experience like this. Also I have been here since 3 pm and no one ask us even a glass of water at 9:40 they are serving poor quality food.”

Ms Singh said that some passengers, who were diabetic patients, were “forced to eat sugary food to keep up with the inconvenience.” She said on May 11, “The managers answer is ‘we have no option’ Why is the aviation ministry not putting penalties on big corporations like #indigoairlines when common man is suffering?”

Another flight delayed by @IndiGo6E#diabetic patients forced to eat sugary food to keep up with the inconvenience. The managers answer is “we have no option “ Why is avaiatiin ministry not putting penalties on big corporations like #indigoairlines when common man is suffering? pic.twitter.com/AGz8sHDRYu

— Swati Singh (@swtsingh34) May 11, 2024

She also shared a video of an exchange between airline staff and an elderly passenger. The woman says in the clip, “We have been worried since yesterday afternoon. The urgent work that we needed to do could not be done. We will complain to IndiGo’s chairman in Delhi.”

The airline took note of the same and replied to Ms Singh’s post. The official account of IndiGo said, “Ma’am, this is not the experience we aim to provide our customers. We regret the inconvenience. Please share your PNR with us via DM so we may check this immediately and assist you further. Vandana”

Since being shared, the post has amassed a lot of reactions online.

“Airlines r taking Indians for a ride. They cancel flights & they are not penalised,” said a person.

Another wrote, “I guess Indigo is hiring in bulk without proper scrutiny and training of candidates. What quality will u expect. Definitely not a classy one.”

Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: Velankanni Raj B

Budget carrier IndiGo, which has an all-narrowbody fleet, announced its foray into widebody planes with an order of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft which are expected to be delivered to the airline from 2027 onwards.

In addition to the firm order of 30 A350s, IndiGo said in a press statement that it also has purchase rights for an additional 70 Airbus A350 Family aircraft “for possible future needs under certain conditions.”

The airline has nearly 359 aircraft in its fleet, which include 128 A320 family of aircraft ( comprising 3 freighters), 44 ATR regional jets. There are also two widebody Boeing 777 aircraft which were brought into the fleet on wet lease from Turkish Airlines in order to cope with global supply chain issues following Covid-19.

Last year, in June 2023, IndiGo placed the largest ever single aircraft order by any airline for 500 aircraft with Airbus putting the outstanding orderbook of A320 Family of narrow body planes at 1,000 aircraft which will be delivered until 2035. The airline’s CEO Pieter Elbers has said that IndiGo will double its fleet by 2030.

InterGlobe Aviation’s (IndiGo) promoter Rakesh Gangwal. File

“InterGlobe Aviation’s promoter Rakesh Gangwal is likely to sell more than a 3% stake in the company through open market transactions,” according to sources. The company is the parent of the country’s largest airline IndiGo.

As of December 2023, promoters’ of InterGlobe Aviation owned a 63.13% stake in the company and Mr. Gangwal had an 11.72% shareholding.

The Chinkerpoo Family Trust, whose trustee is Shobha Gangwal and JP Morgan Trust Company of Delaware, owned a 13.49% stake, as per the shareholding data on the BSE. Shobha Gangwal is the wife of Rakesh Gangwal, the co-founder of the company.

As per the sources, shares amounting to more than 3% stake are likely to be sold at a discount to Thursday’s (March 7) closing price of ₹3,101.55 per share. The scrip closed with a gain of 1% after touching an intra-day high of ₹3,128.95.

Amid differences with co-founder Rahul Bhatia, Mr. Gangwal, in February 2022, resigned from the board of directors of InterGlobe Aviation and also said that he would gradually reduce his equity stake in the airline over the next five years.

A woman recently took to social media and shared her harrowing experience with Indigo Airlines. Yavanika Raj Shah, an X (formerly Twitter) user, shared a picture of a missing seat cushion on an IndiGo flight. She was flying from Bengaluru to Bhopal on flight 6E 6465. The airlines took note of the same and expressed regret. 

“Beautiful @IndiGo6E-I do hope I land safely. This is your flight from Bengaluru to Bhopal 6E 6465,” she said on the microblogging website along with a picture.

Beautiful @IndiGo6E — I do hope I land safely!
This is your flight from Bengaluru to Bhopal 6E 6465. pic.twitter.com/DcPJTq3zka

— Yavanika Raj Shah (@yavanika_shah) March 6, 2024

Responding to the same, IndiGo said that the cushions were replaced for cleaning and the cabin crew had informed the customers. They wrote, “Ma’am, thank you for speaking with us. The seat cushions were replaced prior to the flight for cleaning purposes. Our cabin crew promptly informed the customers who were allotted these seats. This is a standard practice for cleaning during transit as and when required. “

Ma’am, thank you for speaking with us. The seat cushions were replaced prior to the flight for cleaning purposes. Our cabin crew promptly informed the customers who were allotted these seats. This is a standard practice for cleaning during transit as and when required. (1/2)

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) March 6, 2024

They added, “We are committed to providing the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene to our customers. Team IndiGo.”

Since being shared, her post has amassed the attention of many social media users. It has amassed over a million views and 10,000 likes.

A person wrote, “Wow massaging seats.”

“Maybe the previous passengers carried them off,” said a person.

“Saw a similar seat while flying Indigo from Mumbai to Indore last week. They fixed the cushion only after the actual passenger turned up. May be they are facing cushion shortage and using as per demand!” remarked a user.

Another added, “Clearly indigo is not for beginners”

“This is Indigo’s all new ‘Minimalist Sky Lounge’,” said a person.

An X user also said, “I heard about breath taking but never heard about seat taking. This has to be the first time.”

Chief Aircraft Acquisition and Financing Officer of IndiGo said the new aircraft will be instrumental in supporting the company’s expansion plans and strengthening our position in both domestic and international markets.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Singapore-headquartered BOC Aviation Limited on February 14 said it has entered into a finance lease transaction with InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo). The deal has been signed for four Airbus A320NEO aircraft.

“We are pleased to be closing another four finance leases with IndiGo,” said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BOC Aviation.

“We continue to work closely with our long-time customer to support its expansion strategy as it builds a fleet of the latest technology fuel-efficient aircraft,” Mr. Townend said in a release.

The aircraft are all powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. All four aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2024.

“We are pleased to announce that we have extended our partnership with BOC Aviation through a lease agreement for four Airbus A320NEO aircraft,” said Riyaz Peermohamed, Chief Aircraft Acquisition and Financing Officer of IndiGo.

He further said that these aircraft will be instrumental in supporting the company’s expansion plans and strengthening our position in both domestic and international markets.

“At IndiGo, we are dedicated to providing our customers with unparalleled travel experiences, and this partnership will allow us to continue delivering affordable, on-time, and hassle-free travel across our extensive 6E network,” he said.

New Delhi:

An IndiGo flight en route to Bengaluru returned to Singapore after take-off on Tuesday morning as the airline had forgotten to offload the baggage of passengers of an earlier flight.

“We acknowledge the baggage error on the part of our service partner at Singapore airport with respect to flight 6E 1006 operating from Singapore to Bengaluru, due to which the flight returned to origin. The passengers were kept informed of the delay and served refreshments,” the airline said in a statement.

Some social media users complained about the incident.

Tagging IndiGo, a user on X said, “Congratulations on achieving the impossible… Singapore Bengaluru flight at 5 40 am made to turn back coz you guys forgot to offload luggage from incoming flight”.

Another X user said there was mismanagement at Singapore airport.

“@IndiGo6E horrible mismanagement at Singapore airport!6E1006 was in the air for 1.5 hours, from SIN to BLR, landed back in Singapore bec you all mixed up baggages of various flights!!!…,” the user said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Airfares are set to shoot up as one of India’s largest airlines IndiGo has introduced a distance-based “fuel charge” on domestic and international routes. According to the company, the fuel tax will vary between Rs 300 and Rs 1,000 per sector. This decision was made in response to the recent sharp increase in the price of jet fuel. ATF (aviation turbine fuel) accounts for a substantial portion of an airline’s operating expenses, necessitating fare adjustment to address such cost surge, IndiGo said.

“IndiGo, India’s leading airline, is introducing a fuel charge on domestic and international routes, effective 00:01hrs October 06, 2023. The decision follows the significant increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices, which have surged in the last three months with consecutive price hikes every month,” the airline said in a press note. 

What is IndiGo’s fuel surcharge? 

Issuing a statement, IndiGo said, “Under this pricing structure, passengers booking IndiGo flights will incur a fuel charge, per sector, based on the sector distance”. 

According to the press note, the airline will now charge Rs 300 for trips under 500 km, Rs 400 for distances between 510 and 1,000km, Rs 550 for trips between 1,001 and 1,500 km, Rs 650 for trips between 1,501 and 2,500 km, Rs 800 for trips between 2,501 and 3,500 km, and Rs 1,000 for trips more than 3,501 km. 

“IndiGo remains committed to offering affordable fares to its valued customers. IndiGo will also publish the tariff sheet subsequently, with the sector-wise charge that can be viewed on http://www.goindigo.in,” the airline said.

ATF price hike 

On October 1, the cost of aviation turbine fuel, or jet fuel, increased by 5 per cent – the fourth straight monthly increase since July. According to price notification of state-owned fuel retailers, jet fuel has been increased by Rs 5,779.84 per kilolitre, or 5.1 per cent, in the national capital to Rs 118,199.17 per kl from Rs 112,419.33. 

This fourth straight increase in prices of jet fuel, which makes up for 40 per cent of an airline’s operating cost, has increased the burden on already financially strained airlines. The increase comes on back of the steepest-ever 14.1 per cent increase (Rs 13,911.07 per kl) effected on September 1, and a 8.5 per cent or Rs 7,728.38 per kl increase on August 1.

Notably, in July, ATF price had gone up by 1.65 per cent or Rs 1,476.79 per kl. In four increases, ATF prices have gone up by a record Rs 29,391.08 per kl.

Bengaluru, India:

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has raised three incidents of engine failure in IndiGo flights with engine maker Pratt & Whitney, aviation ministry said on Thursday.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has demanded that Pratt & Whitney identify the cause of engine damage and share data on engine failures globally, according to a statement by the ministry.

Pratt & Whitney and IndiGo, India’s biggest airline by market share, did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for a comment.

Earlier this week, Pratt & Whitney parent RTX disclosed that a rare manufacturing flaw could ground hundreds of Airbus jets in coming years.

It is the second time the company flagged engine issues this year after it recalled 200 engines worldwide in July due to snags in the high pressure turbine parts and asked carriers to remove engines for inspection before Sept. 15.

Pratt & Whitney said earlier this week it was reviewing the need for a phase two recall for removal of up to 600 engines between 2023 and 2026, and will issue servicing plans in the next 60 days.

Eleven engines in IndiGo flights were “impacted” by the recall in July, civil aviation ministry’s statement said.

IndiGo said on Tuesday it has been working closely with Pratt & Whitney to assess the potential impact of the engine failures.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)