AVGEEK
India’s airline structure and the aircraft market in 2026
In part one, Thomas Jaeger and Addison Schonland examine IndiGo’s strategic direction, India’s airline concentration and the contest among aircraft manufacturers.
The conversation
Thomas Jaeger of ch-aviation and Addison Schonland of AirInsight discuss the structure of the airline industry in the first of two conversations. They assess what Willie Walsh’s arrival at IndiGo might mean for its low-cost model, the move toward dual cabins and widebodies, and the consequences of concentration in India’s domestic market.
The discussion also considers the A321XLR’s implications for hub networks and the different positions of Boeing and Airbus in the aircraft market. Part two turns to engine shortages, fleet risk and future aircraft concepts.
Key Takeaways
- Jaeger and Schonland assess what Willie Walsh’s move to IndiGo could mean for the carrier’s low-cost model and future structure.
- They discuss dual cabins and widebodies at Indian low-cost carriers, and question the consequences of a concentrated domestic airline market.
- The conversation considers whether the A321XLR could alter hub economics and compares Boeing’s and Airbus’s approaches to the aircraft market.
Topics
Guests
Thomas Jaeger
Thomas Jaeger is the founder of ch-aviation. Across two episodes with Addison Schonland, he examines airline competition, fleet constraints and the economics of growth. The discussion ranges from India's market structure to engine shortages and aircraft backlogs. His appearances use the industry's operating data to frame its strategic choices.
Addison Schonland
Addison Schonland is a founder of AirInsight Group. He joins Thomas Jaeger for a two-part discussion of the aviation industry's direction. Airline models, aircraft manufacturing and constraints on fleet growth are considered alongside future technologies. The conversations ask which developments can change airline economics and which still face substantial operating hurdles.