As one of India’s quickest and greatest developing businesses, the aviation industry is no exception. Notably, India’s airline sector has grown to become the world’s third-largest and is expected to overtake the United Kingdom by 2024.
IndiGo and Air India are two airline businesses that have boosted the Indian economy’s expectations, from providing low-cost ticket fares to establishing Maharaja Lounge for passengers.
Key Takeaways
- Indigo is a low-cost carrier, while Air India is a full-service airline, resulting in different pricing structures and in-flight amenities.
- Air India offers international flights to a wider range of destinations than Indigo.
- Indigo boasts a young fleet and better on-time performance, whereas Air India has a more extensive domestic network and offers a loyalty program.
IndiGo vs Air India
IndiGo is a budget airline based in India that primarily operates domestic flights and is currently the largest passenger airline in the country. Air India is a full-service airline company, also from India, which operates both domestic and international flights from India.
As an airline both within India as well as internationally, IndiGo is the biggest in the country. Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal are the founders of IndiGo.
Approximately 1500 flights are scheduled per day, to 71 domestic and 25 international destinations. IndiGo operates flights from IGI Airport in Delhi, which is its primary hub.
As well as being the oldest and largest airline in India, Air India is also one of the most technologically advanced. It was established by Tata Sons’ J. R. D. Tata in 1932.
Using aircraft constructed by Airbus and Boeing, Air India flies to 45 international and 57 domestic destinations across five continents in 31 countries.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | IndiGo | Air India |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | It is a private airline company that renders minimum operating cost services to its passengers for domestic and international travel. | Air India is a National flag carrier airline that bestows air transport services and other aerial works. |
| Launched | IndiGo was launched by Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal in 2005, and the airline started operating on 4th August 2006. | Air India was initiated by J.R.D Tata in 1932, but the operations began on 29th July 1946. |
| Number of Fleet | IndiGo is considered the largest fleet in India that operates nearly a fleet of 250 airlines | Air India owns a fleet of 168 airlines that includes mostly Boeing and Airbus airliners. |
| Number of Destination | IndiGo functions 1500 flights per day with 71 domestic & 25 abroad recorded. | Air India covers nearly 70 domestic and overly 100 international destinations a day. |
| Services | IndiGo provides low-fare flight tickets, only economy class, buy-on-board program, pre-assigned seats, multiple cancel options & introduced other entertainment options. | Air India offers economy as well as two-class configuration, redeemable tickets as rewards for travel, Maharaja Lounge for business-class passengers. |
What is IndiGo?
IndiGo is the nation’s largest airline in terms of domestic as well as international depots.
It was under the ownership of Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal. And by the middle of the year 2006, they bought the first aircraft starting from New Delhi and destined for Imphal via the Guwahati route.
Afterward, by 2011, they had obtained permission to launch international flights too. Subsequently, they have outstood other airlines by 2012, by becoming India’s highest-rated airline on the market.
India’s IndiGo has its headquarters in Gurugram, Haryana.
Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321neo 51, Airbus A321LR, Airbus A321XLR, and ATR 72-600 is the list of aircraft operated under the airline company IndiGo as of December 2021.
Every flight of IndiGo departs from IGI Airport in Delhi. On the whole, IndiGo offers over 1500 flights per day, to 71 domestic and 25 international destinations.
Known as an affordable company, IndiGo offers only economy class fares and seats for its passengers. IndiGo doesn’t provide any complimentary meals but has a buy-on-board meal scheme.
Hello 6E is IndiGo’s magazine and is also the only magazine available for passengers to read on the plane. Besides, IndiGo offers premium services including multiple cancellations, pre-booking, and many more, in addition to access to SonyLIV.
What is Air India?
Air India is the most ancient as well as one of the largest flag carrier airlines in India. Originally, it was founded in 1932, which was renamed Tata Airlines to Air India after world war 2.
Since the airline’s commencement in 1946, it has been owned by the Government of India.
On 15 October 1932, Air India took off for its first flight from Karachi to Mumbai. Moreover, it is now a part of the largest airline alliance in the world named Star Alliance. New Delhi is home to Air India’s headquarters, Indian Airlines House.
In addition to a hub at Delhi’s IGI Airport, the airline has operations in several cities throughout India, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, and Thiruvananthapuram.
There are over 45 international and 57 domestic destinations served by Air India’s Airbus and Boeing aircraft, therefore, serving destinations in over 31 countries across five continents.
Over and above, Air India’s Maharajah (Emperor) mascot, along with the Konark Wheel-like logo, are well-known around the globe. Moreover, Air India offers complimentary meals alongside inflight entertainment with a vast range of variety.
From First class to Executive Class, and Economy class, Air India renders an awe-inspiring experience.
Main Differences Between IndiGo and Air India
- IndiGo is known as the largest airline in India, with more than 250 fleet developments. Whereas, Air India is an ancient flag carrier airline in India that does other aerial works such as rescue, surveying, observation, patrol, etc.
- IndiGo has nearly 1500 flights in function and covers 71 domestic & 25 international flights per day. On the other hand, Air India has a large network of international travel whereby it covers 40% domestic and 60% abroad.
- IndiGo airline is renowned for low-cost ticket fare, which has only economy class. But, Air India offers a comfortable ride from Maharaja Lounge to first-class to Executive Class and Economy class.
- IndiGo was proposed by Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal in 2005 and launched in 2006. Nevertheless, Air India was presented by an Indian Aviator- Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata in 1932 and later launched in 1946 in the name of Tata Airlines.
- IndiGo’s hubs are at various airports such as Indira Gandhi International Airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja Airport, Kempegowda International Airport, Rajiv Gandhi Airport, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport, Chennai Airport, and Cochin International Airport. Notwithstanding, Air India has its Hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-15-3615-1_36
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03772063.1978.11451607
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
