GoAir will take delivery of the first of 72 Airbus A320 neo aircraft this week.
The Indian carrier’s next-generation narrow body aircraft have 186 seats, six more than GoAir’s existing fleet of A320s.
The airline’s first A320 neo will also be its 20th aircraft overall, a landmark which will allow GoAir to consider launching international services.
Under the 5/20 rule imposed by the Indian government, airlines must fly domestically for a period of five years and have a fleet of at least 20 aircraft before applying to serve international routes. Low-cost carrier GoAir launched in 2005.
The airline is expected to receive eight more A320neos this year.
Airbus currently has orders for 520 aircraft from Indian carriers, and plans to deliver an average of one aircraft per week over the next ten years to the region to clear the backlog.
German flag carrier Lufthansa was the launch customer for the A320 neo earlier this year.
Neha Gupta Kapoor
