Well, who would have thought that IndiGo would one-day launch a Business Class product? Nonetheless, it’s now a real thing. IndiGo has today unveiled its new Business Class. Let’s go through every detail.
IndiGo’s Business Class – IndiGo Stretch
IndiGo has announced the launch of “IndiGo Stretch”, a “tailor-made business product for India’s busiest and business routes”. The Business cabin will be installed on the airline’s Airbus A321neo aircraft. It has selected RECARO’s R5 seats, offering “advanced comfort and robust functionality”. The seats have a 38-inch pitch and a 21.3-inch width. For economy class, the airline has selected RECARO’s R2 seats.
IndiGo Stretch’s seats seats come with a six-way adjustable headrest with neck support, 5″ deep recline, electronic device holder, 60-watt USB-Type C power supply, and a three-pin universal power outlet.
Those flying on IndiGo Stretch class will enjoy “complimentary” benefits such as “no convenience fee, specially curated vegetarian meal box from Oberoi Catering Services, wide choice of beverages, and advance seat selection at no additional charge along with priority check-in and anytime boarding”.
IndiGo Stretch cabin will have 12 seats in a 2-2 configuration, meaning 3 rows of seats. The 6E cabin will provide 208 seats, preserving the current seating layout, including the XL sears in the middle of the aircraft.
IndiGo is embarking on a new path of its incredible growth story by introducing a tailor-made business product on the nation’s busiest and business routes. With India’s soaring economy and the evolving aspirations of the Indian society, we believe it’s time for IndiGo to redefine business class in India, increasing availability of this service for the nation. IndiGo Stretch will provide our customers the on-time performance and hassle-free and courteous experience they can expect from us, while adding more space and increased priority at a great value for money.
Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said.
The R5 seats by RECARO are “distinguished by customized diamond pattern quilted dress covers and advanced comfort cushions”.
We are honored to continue our longstanding partnership with IndiGo, a testament to the trust they place in RECARO to deliver unparalleled comfort and performance through our seating solutions. Tailored to enhance the traveler experience in IndiGo’s new business class cabin, the R5 embodies excellence in ergonomic design while touting sustainability principles.
Dr. Mark Hiller, CEO of RECARO Aircraft Seating and RECARO Holding said.
Plans for IndiGo Stretch
IndiGo Stretch seats will be on sale from tomorrow (6th August 2024). The inaugural route will be Delhi-Mumbai, for which the seats will be on sale. The product will launch in mid-November 2024 at an introductory price of 18,018₹ (215$ approximately). This will be followed by a gradual scale-up and product will operate on most of the Metro-to-Metro routes, with all 12 routes expected to be served by the end of 2025, twelve months after introduction.
A total of 45 A321neo aircraft will feature IndiGo Stretch, with each A321neo aircraft featuring 12 business class seats and 208 economy class seats. Aircraft deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024, and all business class installations are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Thoughts
As I had written earlier in this article, IndiGo is a juncture where it has won the low-cost game already. After the collapse of Jet Airways in 2018, IndiGo always knew that the gap in demand and supply for premium seats would eventually lead them to at least consider offering a premium product. Well, it certainly has and here we are.
IndiGo, having roots as a low-cost carrier, certainly won’t go over the top with its Business Class. The offering announced today is what I think will be perfect for domestic markets. The differences between IndiGo Stretch and a conventional Business Class are that IndiGo is not offering lounge access; is offering meal boxes instead of a full meal and the seat pitch is also 2-3 inches less compared to full service carriers. Also, at least from the initial announcements, it seems that IndiGo is not providing extra baggage allowance compared to Economy Class.
IndiGo seems to be readying for introducing a more premium product may be for A321XLRs (Extra Long Range) and A350-900s that will go long-haul. While the airline has announced that this Business Class product will fly on domestic Metro-to-Metro routes, it will not be surprising if we see it make way onto key international routes like Dubai and Singapore later.
Featured image of IndiGo Stretch seats by X/khabri_lal
All the other images by Livefromalounge
What do you think of IndiGo Stretch? Let me know in the comments section below.
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