India’s largest domestic carrier IndiGo, is getting ready to receive the 100th Airbus A320-200 aircraft as it enters its 100th month of operation.
IndiGo began operations on August 4, 2006, and it will receive its 100th A320 tomorrow, November 4 or the day after tomorrow. The aircraft is (manufacturer’s serial number) MSN 6336 and will be registered VT-IAY when it enters the fleet. This A320 is the last of IndiGo’s first order; for 100 A320-200 aircraft placed at the Paris Air Show in June 2005; an order which raised the eyebrows of almost every aviation analyst.
At the Paris Air Show of 2011, IndiGo announced its long term intent by following up its original order with another one; this time for 180 A320s (150 neo and 30 ceo) which was, at the time, the largest single order ever placed. (Read our analysis).
A little over two weeks ago in October 2014, IndiGo signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase another 250 A320neo (read our coverage and our analysis).
The airline has gone from strength to strength, becoming the first Indian operator of the A320 with Sharklets, and the first global carrier of A320 Sharklets powered by the IAE V2500 engines (read our coverage).
Sources inform us there is nothing special is planned. No special livery not even a decal will be placed on the aircraft. It will look identical to the photo of VT-IFK (at the top of the story), save for the registration. On arrival the aircraft will undergo the same simple pooja ceremony all IndiGo aircraft have undergone on their delivery.
To commemorate the occasion the company will launch an educational program ‘6E Scholar‘ under which it will pay for the education of 100 children all the way till graduation. A noble effort indeed.
Didn’t Indigo start operations on 4 August 2006 (not 2008) ? Wikipedia Says so…
“IndiGo took delivery of its first Airbus A320-200 aircraft on 28 July 2006, nearly one year after placing the order, and commenced operations on 4 August 2006 with a service from New Delhi to Imphal viaGuwahati.”
Yes Narayan, you are correct. IndiGo did indeed start ops in 2006. Sorry for the typographical error which has now been corrected. Thanks for the heads-up.