India’s skies may soon feel a bit lighter for travelers, as IndiGo prepares to bring back a significant portion of its grounded fleet, offering hope for more reasonable airfares in the near future. With nearly 80 aircraft expected to rejoin service by early 2026, this marks a major step in addressing the capacity crunch that has plagued the aviation sector since late 2023.
The grounding of around 70 aircraft had been triggered by a critical issue discovered by US-based RTX, manufacturer of the Pratt & Whitney engines. A flaw in the metal powder used in engine components had raised concerns of potential cracking, forcing airlines, including IndiGo, to pull several planes out of service as a safety precaution. This disruption led to a shortage in available seats, pushing airfares to uncomfortable highs for many Indian families and business travelers.
Now, with improvements in the engine supply chain and more stable performance of the engines, IndiGo is cautiously optimistic. Of the grounded aircraft, about 30 are set to rejoin the active fleet, while another 10 will be returned to lessors at the end of their lease periods. Combined with the airline’s regular fleet additions, this fleet refresh could bring a welcome change for consumers.
Although the airline has added 14 new aircraft this year and returned 11 to lessors, the anticipated reactivation of planes and new deliveries signal a gradual easing of the supply strain. Still, some of the regained capacity will be allocated to international routes as IndiGo continues to expand its global footprint, potentially tempering the relief for domestic travelers.
According to IndiGo’s Chief Financial Officer Gaurav Negi, the airline expects capacity growth in the early double digits for FY26, with even stronger mid-teen growth projected for the first quarter of the fiscal year. This development offers cautious optimism for lower fares, though much will depend on how the new capacity is deployed across routes.
For now, passengers can look forward to the possibility of more available seats and slightly more affordable fares as the nation’s leading airline works to stabilize operations after an extended period of turbulence. While the road to fare normalization may be gradual, the return of these aircraft is a crucial and encouraging step forward for Indian aviation.
