IndiGo is reportedly discussing an order for 100 Embraer regional jets, with an option for about 50 more, a move that could expand the airline’s reach to smaller Indian cities and alter how it deploys aircraft across regional routes. The discussions, however, remain unconfirmed and are described as being at an early stage.
The information was reported by Reuters, which cited three people with direct knowledge of the matter. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity and said that a deal was not guaranteed, the aircraft model had not been finalised and the eventual order could change. IndiGo and Embraer had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
If completed, the proposed order would be among the largest placed with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer. Deliveries would likely begin from 2030 at the earliest, according to two of the sources cited by Reuters. At list prices, an order of this size could be worth billions of dollars, although aircraft manufacturers commonly offer discounts in large transactions.
The discussions are significant because IndiGo’s fleet is dominated by Airbus narrow-body aircraft, while the airline currently operates 44 ATR turboprops. Embraer’s regional aircraft could allow the carrier to add capacity on routes where larger narrow-body jets may not be commercially suitable, while also potentially replacing some turboprops on existing services.
Embraer manufactures the E175-E1, which can seat up to 88 passengers, as well as the larger E190-E2 and E195-E2. The latter aircraft can seat up to 114 and 146 passengers respectively and use newer, more fuel-efficient engines. The model under discussion with IndiGo has not been identified.
A larger regional fleet could support IndiGo’s expansion into smaller cities and improve the economics of operating routes with lower demand than major metropolitan connections. The report does not establish which routes might be considered, how many aircraft would replace existing turboprops or whether the airline would operate the aircraft under a separate regional strategy.
The possible order also comes as Embraer seeks a stronger position in India, the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market. The company has been marketing its regional jets to Indian airlines and signed a non-binding pact this year with Adani Defence & Aerospace to explore a final assembly line in India for its older-generation E175-E1 aircraft.
That assembly-line proposal is linked to securing orders for at least 200 aircraft, Embraer Chief Executive Francisco Gomes Neto told Reuters in March. He said aircraft assembled in India could be delivered from 2028 if orders were secured by the end of 2026. The reported IndiGo discussions alone would not establish whether that threshold has been met.
IndiGo has also signalled plans to expand its long-haul operations while maintaining its low-cost short-haul business. Chief Executive Willie Walsh, who took charge in August, has said the airline plans to grow its fleet to around 600 aircraft by 2030, from 442 as of September. The airline’s current fleet includes Airbus narrow-body aircraft and ATR turboprops.
For India’s regional aviation network, the significance of any Embraer order would depend on the final aircraft type, firm order size, delivery schedule and routes selected. Those details remain unsettled, and the reported discussions should not be treated as a confirmed purchase until IndiGo or Embraer issues an official statement or a formal order is disclosed.
