IndiGo climbs 7 ranks to be #36 in Brand Finance Top 50

 IndiGo climbs 7 ranks to be #36 in Brand Finance Top 50 Airline list

recognising the most valuable and strongest airline brands in 2021

-          IndiGo registered the highest gain in ranking this year

India’s leading carrier - IndiGo - has emerged as a stronger and more valuable airline brand over the last year as per the Brand Finance Top 50 Airlines Report 2021. IndiGo rose to #36 in 2021 from #43 in 2020, registering the highest gain of 7 points. IndiGo is the only airline brand to make it to the list from India, for the second consecutive year.

Savio D'Souza, Valuations Director, Brand Finance said, “IndiGo has been resilient in a tough year for the airline sector. Brand value across the sector dropped by -30% on average while IndiGo fell by the lowest, -7%. It is the fastest climber in ranking terms at #36 in the Brand Finance Airlines 50 2021 study. The brand rating of AAA- is testament to the effective execution of a robust corporate strategy in one of the most competitive markets in the world”.

 Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Wholetime Director and Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “It gives us immense pleasure to see IndiGo taking a leap of 7 ranks, to be #36 in the Brand Finance Top 50 Airline brands list this year. This is a testament to the efforts made last year towards making IndiGo more efficient and resilient in the face of the pandemic, by providing a safe and hassle-free experience for our customers as well as employees. This recognition further encourages us to continue our tradition of on-time performance at affordable fares, with courteous and hassle-free service on our lean clean flying machines.”

Brand Valuation Methodology

Brand Finance calculates the values of the brands in its league tables using the Royalty Relief approach – a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668. This involves estimating the likely future revenues that are attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, to arrive at a ‘brand value’ understood as a net economic benefit that a licensor would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market.

IndiGo signs LOI to bring Freighters on board

 IndiGo signs LOI to bring Freighters on board

Building on the success of the CarGo business in recent years, IndiGo - India’s leading carrier – has initiated a freighter programme and is in the process of sourcing 4 A321ceo aircraft each of which will be converted from passenger jets to a full freighter configuration.  A Letter of Intent has been signed with a lessor for two aircraft already, and IndiGo expects to reach agreement for the next two shortly.  The initiative will make best use of the natural synergies that IndiGo offers, using the same pool of pilots and engineers that fly and service its current fleet.

The A321P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter conversion) is the most efficient narrow-bodied freighter available, offering 24 container positions and supporting a payload of up to 27 tonnes. These are being converted through a programme involving ST Engineering and Airbus with their joint venture, Elbe FlugzeugWerke (EFW).

IndiGo is expected to take the delivery of its first freighter in the first half of 2022, which will be used for both domestic and regional missions. The remaining three aircraft in the initial commitment are expected to arrive within a year or so from arrival of our first freighter, and further aircraft may be sourced depending on market development. 

Mr. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer and Wholetime Director, IndiGo said, “CarGo has been a success story over the last year, scaling new heights and creating new records, but our belief in the cargo business goes beyond the special circumstances right now. IndiGo was already the largest carrier of cargo in domestic India before Covid-19, and we expect the market to continue to grow after the pandemic.  Our investment in the Airbus Freighter Programme will help strengthen our product and services in the segment, and not only help accelerate our own business recovery but also be a strong engine of economic growth for the country.”