Thales and IndiGo forge long-term avionics maintenance partnership

Thales and IndiGo, India’s largest airline, have entered into a strategic 11-year maintenance agreement to support IndiGo’s existing fleet of 430 Airbus A320 aircraft, as well as its future order of more than 800 Airbus A32X aircraft. This landmark deal underscores IndiGo’s commitment to strengthening operational reliability while preparing for rapid fleet expansion.

Under the contract, Thales will deliver expert repair services for IndiGo’s avionics components, supported by its ‘Avionics-By-The-Hour’ (ABTH) programme. This system ensures the availability of critical spare parts, thereby reducing aircraft downtime and increasing fleet availability. In parallel, the ‘Repair-By-The-Hour’ (RBTH) element guarantees timely maintenance interventions, allowing IndiGo to keep its aircraft operational with minimal disruption.

A key element of this partnership is Thales’s new state-of-the-art avionics maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Gurugram, near Delhi airport. Designed to meet the growing demand for avionics support, this advanced site is equipped with modern technology to streamline repair processes and ensure rapid turnaround times. Highly trained technicians at the facility will carry out complex avionics repairs in compliance with stringent safety and regulatory standards, ensuring IndiGo’s aircraft remain airworthy and reliable.

In addition, IndiGo has extended for a further five years its contract with AvioBook Flight, an Electronic Flight Bag solution provided by AvioBook, a subsidiary of Thales. This system is currently the only one authorised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for paperless cockpit operations. Already deployed across IndiGo’s entire fleet, AvioBook Flight has helped the airline significantly cut paper consumption, thereby advancing its environmental sustainability objectives. It also enhances operational efficiency, supporting over 2,000 flights daily through streamlined flight operations and improved data accessibility for pilots.

This comprehensive partnership positions IndiGo to sustain its rapid growth trajectory while improving operational resilience and sustainability, marking a major step forward in the airline’s long-term strategic plans.