India’s largest airline is weighing its biggest move yet beyond its familiar Airbus fleet. IndiGo is in early-stage talks to buy 100 regional jets from Brazilian planemaker Embraer, with options for about 50 more, according to a Reuters report published on Wednesday, November 4. If the discussions turn into a firm order, it could rank among the largest commercial aircraft orders Embraer has ever received.
The talks are still at a preliminary stage, and neither side has confirmed a deal. Three people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters about the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity. Both IndiGo and Embraer did not immediately respond to requests for comment when the report was published.
What is on the table
The headline numbers are straightforward. The discussions cover an initial purchase of 100 regional jets, plus options for roughly 50 additional aircraft. The number of planes under discussion is being reported for the first time, according to the Reuters report carried by Business Standard and The Telegraph.
Three points are equally important, and they all point to how early this is:
- The aircraft model has not been finalised. Embraer’s regional families include the E175, the E190-E2 and the E195-E2, but no specific type has been chosen in these talks.
- The final quantity could change. The 100 plus 50 figure is what is under discussion now, not a signed commitment.
- A deal is not guaranteed. Early-stage talks in aviation often narrow, pause or fall apart before any announcement.
Deliveries, if an agreement is reached, would likely begin from 2030 at the earliest, two of the people familiar with the talks said. That long timeline is normal for large aircraft orders, where production slots are booked years in advance.
Why regional jets matter for IndiGo
IndiGo’s growth story so far has been built on scale and frequency on busy domestic and international routes. Regional jets would add a different tool to that playbook: a smaller aircraft suited to connecting smaller airports and building feeder traffic into its larger hubs.
That is why the choice of model will matter so much when, and if, the talks progress.
The India manufacturing angle
There is a second thread running alongside the aircraft talks, and it involves manufacturing in India. Embraer has been pushing its regional jets to Indian airlines, and earlier this year it 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. The reported IndiGo discussions, at 100 firm plus 50 options, would not by themselves reach that 200 threshold, but they would be a large step toward it if combined with other Indian orders.
For India, local assembly would mean jobs, supplier work and maintenance expertise built around a new aircraft type. For Embraer, it would mean a manufacturing foothold in one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets. Neither outcome is decided yet, and the assembly pact itself remains non-binding.
What is not decided yet
It is worth being clear about what this report is, and what it is not. It is not an order announcement, not a stock exchange filing and not a confirmation from either company. The model, the price, the delivery schedule and even the final number of aircraft are all still open.
Aircraft deals of this size are rarely priced at catalogue value, so any eventual price tag will depend on negotiations that are still under way.
What to watch next
The next signals will be hard to miss. A formal announcement, a filing to the stock exchanges, or a statement from either company would move this from reported talks to a real order.
Until then, the report itself tells a story about where Indian aviation is heading: beyond the metro-to-metro trunk routes, toward smaller cities and a more connected domestic network.
Frequently asked questions
Is IndiGo buying 100 Embraer jets? Not yet. IndiGo is in early-stage talks to buy 100 regional jets from Embraer, with options for about 50 more, according to Reuters. No deal has been signed or confirmed by either company.
Which Embraer aircraft model is involved? No model has been finalised. The candidates discussed in coverage include the E175, the E190-E2 and the E195-E2, but the choice is still open.
When would deliveries begin? Deliveries would likely begin from 2030 at the earliest, if an agreement is reached, according to people familiar with the talks.
What about the India assembly line? Embraer signed a non-binding pact with Adani Defence and Aerospace earlier this year to explore assembling E175 jets in India. Embraer’s chief executive has said that plan hinges on orders for at least 200 aircraft.
Has IndiGo or Embraer confirmed the talks? No. Both companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment when the report was published on November 4.
We will update this story as soon as IndiGo or Embraer comments publicly or a formal announcement is made.
