IndiGo in early talks with Embraer to buy 100 regional jets, sources say

What is being reported

IndiGo is in early-stage talks to buy 100 Embraer regional jets, with the option for about 50 more, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said, according to a Reuters report published on 4 November 2026. If concluded, it could be one of the largest commercial aircraft orders placed with the Brazilian planemaker. Reuters reported that while talks between IndiGo and Embraer had been reported previously, it was the first to reveal the number of planes and options under consideration.

The discussions are at an early stage and a deal is not guaranteed, the sources said on condition of anonymity, adding that the aircraft model has not been finalised and the amount ordered could change. Any deliveries would likely begin from 2030 at the earliest, two of the people said. IndiGo and Embraer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Which aircraft could be involved

No specific model has been chosen. Embraer's regional jet families include the older-generation E175-E1, which can seat up to 88 passengers, and the larger E190-E2 and E195-E2 jets, which can seat up to 114 and 146 passengers respectively. The E190-E2 and E195-E2 have newer, more fuel-efficient engines, according to the reports.

A successful sale of 100 jets could be worth billions of dollars at list prices, though discounts are common in such deals, the reports said.

Why regional jets fit IndiGo's plans

An Embraer order could allow IndiGo to increase its number of routes to regional areas and to replace some of its ATR turboprops, allowing it to offer more seats on existing routes, according to Business Standard's report of the Reuters story. IndiGo's fleet is mostly Airbus narrowbody jets, but it also has 44 ATR turboprops, and the airline plans to grow its fleet to around 600 aircraft by 2030 from 442 as of September 2026.

A successful sale would also be a major win for Embraer in the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, where airlines are expanding fleets to tap long-term demand for air travel. Star Air, a small regional carrier, is currently the only Indian airline to operate Embraer jets, according to the report.

The India assembly link

Embraer has been pushing its regional jets to Indian airlines and this year signed a non-binding pact with Adani Defence and Aerospace to explore a final assembly line in India for its E175 jets. Embraer chief executive Francisco Gomes Neto told Reuters in March that the India assembly line plan hinged on orders for at least 200 aircraft, and that jets assembled in India could be delivered from 2028 if orders were secured by the end of this year.

For now, however, the IndiGo talks remain just that: talks. Until either company confirms a firm order, the model, the final number and the delivery schedule all remain open, and the reported 100 jets plus 50 options should be read as the scale under discussion, not as a signed deal.

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