IndiGo Airbus A320-232(SL) VT-IFK with Sharklets.
IndiGo Airbus A320-232(WL) VT-IFK with Sharklets. Photo copyright Vedant Agarwal.

IndiGo is the largest LCC in Asia, India largest country

A report in the Aviation Network News and Analysis site (ANNA), shows India’s IndiGo as the largest single low cost carrier in Asia.

Using data sourced from the Official Airline Guide, ANNA reports, IndiGo grew 14.4% compared to last year, to 35.11 million departing seats in the Summer 2017 schedule. It jumped ahead of Indonesia’s Lion Air which grew 8.8% to 30.54 million seats to gain the top spot. The seven month long Summer schedule begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Saturday in October.

IndiGo is single largest LCC. Data sourced from OAG via ANNA.
IndiGo is single largest LCC. Data sourced from OAG via ANNA.

We do not expect IndiGo to rest on its laurels. Lion is one of the world’s largest Boeing 737 MAX customers and deliveries of its new orders should commence very soon. Its Malaysian subsidiary Malindo, received the world’s first Boeing 737-8 MAX in May this year.

The report goes on to note, combining the various airlines of the AirAsia group like AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, AirAsia India, etc, will result in AirAsia being pan-Asia’s leading LCC with 45.63 million seats, a growth of 15% over last summer capacity of 39.82 million departing seats. Lion Air and Thai Lion Air combines will come in second with 36.84 million seats. Malindo is not counted as it is considered a hybrid full service low fare airline.

India largest Asian LCC market

The report also shows India to be the largest low cost carrier country in Asia with almost 62 million departing seats on offer during the Summer 2017 schedule. Indonesia comes in second.

India is largest LCC market. Data sourced from OAG via ANNA.
India is largest LCC market. Data sourced from OAG via ANNA.

Surprisingly, the Dragon is in third spot, though many of the full service Chinese carriers offer low fares similar to the Indian ones. Also, the LCC market in China is growing at 26.7% almost 60% faster than in the fast growing (16.9%) India.

Interesting times lie ahead.

Share your congratulations to IndiGo and India along with your thoughts via a comment.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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