Why IndiGo is the Most Profitable
Airline in India

The Big Picture
India’s aviation market is growing rapidly, but making money in this industry has always been
tough. High fuel costs, competitive fares, and heavy operational expenses have grounded or
weakened many airlines in the past.
Yet, there’s one airline that not only survives but thrives — IndiGo. In FY24–25, it reported over
₹8,000 crores in annual profit, while many competitors like Air India and Vistara posted heavy
losses. So, what makes IndiGo different? The secret lies in its ruthless focus on efficiency and
cost control.
Turnaround Time and Extra Flights
IndiGo is known for being punctual, and that’s not just a marketing tagline.
The airline consistently arrives 10–15 minutes earlier than scheduled, thanks to rapid
deboarding, streamlined cleaning, and optimized ground operations. On busy routes like Delhi
Mumbai, IndiGo often saves 15–20 minutes per flight compared to competitors.
A Harvard study reinforced this advantage: saving just 10 minutes per flight allows an airline to
schedule nearly 200 additional flights per year with the same fleet. For an airline the size of
IndiGo, that efficiency translates into huge gains — more flights, more passengers, and more
revenue.
Oven-less Flights and Fuel Savings
Another unique IndiGo strategy is its oven-less model. Unlike Air India or Vistara, which install
ovens for hot meals, IndiGo eliminates them entirely.
A typical aircraft oven weighs about 20 kg, and with three ovens on board, that’s nearly 60 kg of
extra weight. IndiGo skips these, offering cold sandwiches and snacks instead.
This might seem like a small decision, but it saves ₹2,000–₹3,000 in fuel on every single flight.
Multiply that across 700,000 annual flights, and you’re looking at nearly ₹400 crores in savings
each year — just by not carrying ovens.
It’s a perfect example of IndiGo’s philosophy: cut out unnecessary costs, pass the savings into
profitability, and keep fares competitive.
Why IndiGo Wins While Others Struggle
While Tata-owned Air India and Vistara focus on premium services and hot meals, they also
carry higher costs — which often eat into their revenues. SpiceJet has managed some profits
recently, but at a much smaller scale, and Akasa Air is still in its early growth stage.
IndiGo, on the other hand, keeps things simple:
Arrive earlier, save time.
Eliminate ovens, save fuel.
Fly longer hours per aircraft, maximize usage.
Stick to one aircraft family to keep maintenance cheap.
These practices, though small when looked at individually, combine into a cost structure that no
other Indian airline has been able to match.
Conclusion
IndiGo’s rise as India’s most profitable airline isn’t just luck — it’s strategy. By saving 10–20
minutes per flight, cutting unnecessary weight, and keeping operations lean, IndiGo has created
a model that’s both efficient and sustainable.
While many airlines in India struggle to balance their books, IndiGo proves that profitability in
aviation comes not from luxury or frills, but from discipline, smart choices, and an obsession
with efficiency.
In the end, IndiGo doesn’t just fly planes; it flies smarter than the rest — and that’s why it
continues to dominate the Indian skies.