IndiGo’s first Airbus A350-900 aircraft will feature 16 lie-flat business-class seats as the Indian carrier moves into long-haul flying with a three-cabin configuration.
Chief executive Willie Walsh confirmed the layout at a press conference on Monday. The first 10 aircraft are expected to arrive from the second quarter of 2028, and their cabin configuration has been fixed at 333 seats: 16 in business class, 28 in premium economy and 289 in economy.
A three-cabin long-haul product
The decision gives IndiGo a lie-flat offering for its wide-body operation, distinguishing the new aircraft from the single-aisle fleet’s existing Stretch cabin, where seats recline but do not convert into beds. The A350 business-class seats will provide a fully flat sleeping surface, while premium economy will sit between the business and economy cabins.
| Cabin | Seats | Configuration status |
|---|---|---|
| Business class | 16 lie-flat seats | Fixed for the first 10 aircraft |
| Premium economy | 28 seats | Fixed for the first 10 aircraft |
| Economy | 289 seats | Fixed for the first 10 aircraft |
| Total | 333 seats | First 10 aircraft |
“Customers expect flat beds in business class on a wide-body aircraft.”
Walsh also said that IndiGo could consider installing more flat beds in business class on aircraft delivered later. That leaves open the possibility of a different layout for subsequent A350s, although the airline has not confirmed a second configuration.
Maintaining the low-cost operating model
The cabin decision comes as IndiGo prepares to extend its network beyond the short- and medium-haul markets that have formed the foundation of its operation. Walsh said the airline’s low-cost base would remain central to its plans and that long-haul growth would not be supported by weakening the existing short-haul operation.
Instead, IndiGo expects its established network and flight frequencies to provide traffic for the new services. The comments indicate that the airline intends to add the A350 operation while retaining the connectivity generated by its current domestic network, rather than redesigning that operation around the wide-body aircraft.
Aircraft programme
IndiGo’s original order covered 30 Airbus A350-900s, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The airline later firmed up a further 30 aircraft. The A350 cabin plan therefore represents a significant product change for a carrier historically associated with single-aisle aircraft and a simplified onboard proposition.
- The first 10 A350-900s will have the same 333-seat, three-cabin layout.
- Business class will account for 16 seats, all with lie-flat capability.
- Later aircraft could have a larger premium cabin, but no revised layout has been confirmed.
IndiGo has not announced the routes or launch dates for its A350 services in the details released so far. The confirmed cabin plan nevertheless sets out how the carrier will position its first long-haul aircraft: a largely economy-focused layout, supplemented by premium economy and a compact business-class cabin designed for longer flights.
