India’s IndiGo is in early-stage discussions with Embraer to buy 100 regional jets, with options for about 50 more. No agreement has been reached, the aircraft type has not been selected and the quantity could change. If a deal proceeds, deliveries are likely to start no earlier than 2030. The proposed order could be worth billions of dollars at list prices, before customary discounts.
The aircraft could support IndiGo’s expansion to regional destinations or replace some of its ATR turboprops with larger aircraft on existing routes. The airline had 442 aircraft in September and plans to grow its fleet to about 600 by 2030, including 44 ATRs.
The discussions have not been tied to a specific Embraer model. The manufacturer’s portfolio includes the E175-E1, with up to 88 seats, and the E190-E2 and E195-E2, with capacities of up to 114 and 146 seats respectively. The reported talks therefore do not confirm an order for E2 aircraft.
A contract would give Embraer a substantial customer in India, the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market. Star Air is currently the only Indian airline operating Embraer jets. Separately, Embraer and Adani Defence & Aerospace signed a non-binding agreement this year to explore an Indian final-assembly line for the E175-E1. Embraer’s chief executive said in March that the plan depended on orders for at least 200 aircraft.