IndiGo to introduce lie-flat business class seats on wide-body aircraft
CEO William Walsh said the airline will offer flat-bed seats on Airbus A350s and A321XLRs to meet long-haul international demand.
IndiGo will introduce lie-flat business class seats on its Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft and future Airbus A321XLR narrow-body planes, according to CEO William Walsh. The airline expects the A350 jets to enter service in the second quarter of 2028, according to reports from The Hindu and The Indian Express.
The first 10 of the 60 A350 aircraft on order will feature a three-class configuration consisting of business, premium economy, and economy cabins. The business class cabin will include 16 flat beds, though Walsh said the airline is debating whether to increase this number for future aircraft.
Walsh stated that lie-flat beds are necessary to serve the long-haul international market because that is what customers expect today. He noted that the airline is responding to strengthening global demand for premium products.
The airline will also include flat beds in its A321XLR fleet as it expands. IndiGo has taken delivery of four A321XLR aircraft so far and plans to add three more next year, bringing the total to seven.
The A321XLR is currently used for routes to Athens and Amsterdam. The A350 fleet is intended to allow the carrier to operate deeper into Europe and potentially North America.
Walsh, who took over as CEO in early August, said maintaining a lean cost base remains essential to the airline's success in long-haul operations.