When was IndiGo Airlines Founded and Who Founded It?

IndiGo Airlines is one of India’s most popular and trusted airlines. It is known for low fares, on-time flights, and a large fleet. From a small beginning, IndiGo has grown into India’s biggest airline. To understand this journey, it is important to know when the airline started and who created it.

When was Indigo Airlines Founded?

IndiGo Airlines was founded in 2005 as a private company. It aimed to offer simple, affordable, and timely air travel to passengers across India.

The airline received its first aircraft in July 2006 and officially started flights on 4 August 2006 with a service from New Delhi to Imphal via Guwahati.

Who Founded IndiGo Airlines?

IndiGo was founded by Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal.

Rahul Bhatia

• Belongs to InterGlobe Enterprises, a major Indian business group based in Gurgaon.
• Held the majority stake during the early years.

Rakesh Gangwal

• An aviation expert of Indian origin who lived in the United States.
• Brought deep airline industry knowledge that helped IndiGo grow fast.

Early Growth After Launch

After starting operations in 2006, IndiGo grew very quickly:

• 2007 – Crossed 1 million passengers
• 2010 – Became India’s 3rd largest airline
• 2011 – Started international flights
• 2012 – Became India’s largest airline by market share
• 2014 – Received its 100th aircraft
• 2015 – Launched its Initial Public Offering (IPO)

IndiGo’s Expansion Over the Years

IndiGo added new aircraft, new destinations, and international routes. Today, it operates thousands of flights daily and connects many cities in India and abroad.

IndiGo’s Services

IndiGo mainly offers economy class travel, but focuses on keeping the journey simple and comfortable.

Key Services Include:

• Buy-on-board meals: Passengers can purchase snacks, sandwiches, noodles, tea, coffee, etc.
• Hello 6E magazine for reading during flights.
• Super 6E and 6E Upgrade options for people who want extra benefits like priority check-in, extra baggage, or better seats.

IndiGoStretch (Business Class):

• Introduced in 2024
• Offers bigger seats, complimentary meals, more comfort, and priority services
• Cargo services (IndiGo CarGo) using special Airbus A321 freighter aircraft.

IndiGo keeps its planes simple—no ovens, no free hot meals—to save costs and keep ticket prices low.

Interesting Facts About IndiGo Airlines

• India’s Largest Airline: IndiGo holds the biggest market share in India and flies the most passengers.
• One of the World’s Largest Orders: In 2023, IndiGo placed an order for 500 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, the biggest order in aviation history.
• Quick Turnaround Time: IndiGo prepares an aircraft for the next flight in just 20–25 minutes, helping reduce delays.
• Single-Type Fleet: For many years, IndiGo used only Airbus A320 family aircraft, which reduced training and maintenance costs.
• Very High Daily Flights: By 2025, IndiGo operates over 2,700 flights every day to 94 Indian and 43 international destinations.
• First Indian Airline to Carry 100 Million Passengers in a Year: In 2023, IndiGo became the first Indian airline to carry over 10 crore passengers in a single year.