Willie Walsh Urges IndiGo to Expand Long-Haul While Keeping Low-Cost Model

Willie Walsh, former CEO of International Airlines Group, has advised IndiGo to pursue long-haul flights without abandoning its low-cost core. He believes the airline’s massive domestic scale can generate connecting traffic without a traditional hub, but this strategy won’t be tested until its Airbus A350s arrive in 2028. Until then, Walsh suggests caution, citing record fuel prices and IndiGo’s lack of hedging. Many carriers have struggled when mixing short-haul networks with long-haul ambitions, making IndiGo’s approach a high-stakes experiment in the Indian aviation market.