“This is significant in the background of the fact that earlier IndiGo’s total services to international routes were only 53 per week,” the official says.

IndiGo is also expected to launch more international routes by year’s end, the official says.

IndiGo has ordered 100 aircraft since it began operations in 2006 and plans to obtain an additional 180 Airbus A320s over the next few years.

Over the past decade, India air passenger traffic has increased 15%, outpacing 7%-9% growth in the country’s gross domestic product, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh says.

Consequently, airport infrastructure investment also climbed higher than the rate of economic growth, he said.

From 2007-2012, passenger demand stood at 162.3 million, exceeded by an airport handling capacity of 197.7 million passengers, Singh said.

A320 photo: Airbus