IndiGo is in talks to buy 100 Embraer regional jets, with an option for about 50 more, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke to Reuters on 4 November 20261. The sources describe the discussions as being at an early stage and say a deal is not guaranteed; the aircraft model has not been chosen and the number could change1. Any deliveries would likely begin in 2030 at the earliest, two of the sources said1. No order has been placed. IndiGo and Embraer did not immediately respond to requests for comment1.

What the sources told Reuters

According to the sources, the talks cover 100 firm aircraft plus an option for about 50 more1. Reuters said it was the first time the number of planes under discussion had been reported1. JPMorgan analysts estimated that an order for 100 planes could be worth US$5.1 billion, assuming a 35% discount to list prices1. Embraer's shares in São Paulo rose 2.3% on the day, and IndiGo's shares closed 2.3% higher at Rs 5,140.81.

Reuters reported that an Embraer order could let IndiGo add routes to regional areas and replace some of its ATR turboprops to offer more seats on existing routes1. JPMorgan's analysts said the move could be read "as a decision to potentially step up into India's growing regional aviation market ahead of peers"1.

Which Embraer jet: E175, E190-E2 or E195-E2

The sources said the model has not been finalised1. Embraer's regional jets include the older-generation E175-E1, which seats up to 88 passengers, and the E190-E2 and E195-E2, which have newer, more fuel-efficient engines and seat up to 114 and 146 passengers respectively1. Earlier this year, Embraer signed a non-binding agreement with Adani Defence & Aerospace to explore a final assembly line in India for the E1751. Embraer chief executive Francisco Gomes Neto told Reuters in March that the assembly line plan depended on orders for at least 200 aircraft1.

In July 2026 India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted type certification to the E190, E195 and E195-E2; the E175 had already been certified in India and is flown by Star Air2. Embraer presented the approval as support for regional connectivity under the government's UDAN scheme2, and said the E-Jets can serve routes that are too small for a large narrowbody or too far for a turboprop3. Star Air is currently the only Indian airline that operates Embraer jets1. See the Star Air pilot profile. Elsewhere, Embraer is delivering E195-E2s to LATAM in Brazil: LATAM's E195-E2 deliveries and what they mean for pilots.

From a denial in August to talks with Embraer and ATR

On 7 August 2026, Bloomberg reported that IndiGo was considering dozens of Embraer E2 jets to replace its ATR turboprops and add capacity; neither company immediately responded to requests for comment4. An IndiGo spokesperson then told ch-aviation that the claims were based on speculation5. In September, at the Skytrax World Airline Awards in London, IndiGo chief executive Willie Walsh said the airline was in discussions with Embraer and ATR about a possible order for regional aircraft that could add to or replace its ATR fleet6. "Given the number of aircraft we have and the 60 A350s we are going to receive, we will obviously look at many new markets where we currently do not operate," Walsh said6. The Reuters report of 4 November is the first to put a number on the Embraer talks1.

IndiGo's fleet and orders today

IndiGo operated 442 aircraft as of 30 September 2026 and served 97 domestic and 36 international destinations in the July to September quarter7. Its fleet is mostly Airbus narrowbody jets, together with 44 ATR turboprops, and the airline plans to grow to around 600 aircraft by 20301. According to ch-aviation fleet data, the order book holds 218 A320neos, 520 A321neos and 65 A321XLRs, alongside 60 A350-900 widebodies with purchase rights for another 408. An IndiGo spokesperson told ch-aviation that the first A350s are due in 2028, a year later than previously planned8. Walsh took charge as chief executive in August1. More on the airline in the IndiGo pilot profile.

What an Embraer fleet would mean for pilots in India

IndiGo's pilots currently fly the A320 family and the ATR 72, and the first A350s are due in 20288; an Embraer jet would be a further type. IndiGo's careers page already sets separate requirements for each fleet: on the type-rated routes, Airbus junior first officers need a DGCA CPL with an A320 endorsement and ATR trainee pilots a CPL with an ATR 72 endorsement9. Flying an E-Jet requires its own type rating on the pilot's licence, which neither of those endorsements covers; our guide on how a type rating works explains the training and skill tests. Type rating training for the E2 has been approved outside India: in 2019 FlightSafety received FAA, EASA and ANAC approval for an E2 training programme supporting initial type rating courses, run on an E190-E2 full flight simulator in Paris10. Neither IndiGo nor the reports have said how the airline would train or recruit pilots for an Embraer fleet.

If the timeline the sources describe holds, the first jets would not arrive before 20301. The Ministry of Civil Aviation estimates that India needs 30,000 to 31,800 additional pilots over the next decade, ThePrint reported11. Boeing's Pilot and Technician Outlook 2026 to 2045 puts the need in South Asia at 48,000 new pilots over 20 years, out of 674,000 worldwide12. For background on how Indian cadets reach the cockpit through foreign flight schools, see Airbus and Blue Angels Air's training plan for Indian cadets.

How IndiGo recruits pilots now

IndiGo recruits through cadet programmes and direct entry. Its cadet partners are Skyborne Airline Academy, Flight Training Adelaide, Insight Aviation, Chimes Aviation Academy, Garuda Aviation and Marigold, and the programmes lead to a CPL and an Airbus A320 type rating9. On the Skyborne route, selection has three eliminatory stages: an assessment event in Delhi with aptitude tests, an English test and a personality questionnaire; a group discussion run by IndiGo; and a personal interview with IndiGo13. IndiGo allows a maximum of two attempts per stage14. Read more about the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Programme and Skyborne's latest IndiGo cadet intake.

For direct entry, the careers page lists separate routes for type-rated pilots, non-type-rated pilots and type-rated expatriate pilots on both the Airbus and the ATR fleets9. A junior first officer on the Airbus fleet must be aged between 18 and 40, an Indian national holding a DGCA CPL with an A320 endorsement, current COP/RTR and FRTO, a Class 1 medical and at least 25 hours of multi-engine time9.

Practise the IndiGo selection tests: IndiGo selection practice covers the written test, psychometric evaluation, group discussion and interview, and the pilot assessment guide explains what to expect on the day.