By Jay Menon • Contributing Writer
November 9, 2026
Embraer has spent years trying to establish a meaningful commercial aircraft business in India. A potential order from IndiGo could change that.
India’s largest airline is in early discussions to buy 100 regional jets from Embraer, with options for another 50, Reuters reported on November 4.
No aircraft model has been selected, and the negotiations have yet to produce an agreement. Deliveries, if a deal is concluded, are unlikely to begin before 2030.
When contacted by Leeham News and Analysis (LNA)Embraer said it wished to “withhold comment” on the reported negotiations, while IndiGo did not respond to a request for comment.
The Brazilian airframer seeks to produce E175s on the Indian subcontinent with a new final assembly line. Photo credit: Embraer
An order of that size would be a major commercial success for Embraer. It would also raise questions about how IndiGo intends to use regional jets alongside its extensive Airbus narrowbody fleet and ATR turboprops.
India’s domestic aviation market continues to grow, but not every route can support an A320-sized aircraft. Smaller cities need more connections, and some routes have sufficient demand for a jet without generating enough traffic to fill a larger narrowbody.
Embraer believes its E-Jets can serve that market. The difficulty has been persuading Indian airlines to introduce another aircraft type, with the investment in crews, maintenance and spare parts that entails.
The reported IndiGo negotiations suggest that proposition is receiving serious attention. Whether it becomes a viable business will depend on aircraft economics, network requirements and Embraer’s ability to support a much larger fleet in Asia.
Source: leehamnews.com
