Thursday, June 16 2005 19:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Le Bourget (France): In a major move in the Indian aviation sector, leading travel and tourism conglomerate InterGlobe Enterprises today (Jun 16, 2005) announced plans to launch a domestic airline, IndiGo, and placed firm orders for 100 A-320 aircraft with the Airbus Industrie worth over $6 billion.

"IndiGo has committed for 100 firm A-320 family of aircraft with Airbus" in a venture jointly promoted by the InterGlobe and noted management and aviation expert Rakesh Gangwal, the European aircraft manufacturer and the travel firm announced at the ongoing Paris Air Show.

Airbus said it had received a letter of intent for the purchase of 100 A320 planes from Indigo, which is yet to launch its operations in India as a low-fare carrier.

This announcement follows the orders placed by leading private Indian carriers like Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and the yet-to-be-launched Paramount Airways. Low-fare carrier Air Deccan also took delivery of the first of its 30 ATR 72-500 aircraft at this air show yesterday (Jun 15, 2005).