Indigo, which is run by former KLM chief Pieter Elbers, will have 1,330 planes in service once the entire Airbus order is fulfilled. Final deliveries are expected in the 2030s.

Mr Elbers said it was “difficult to overstate the significance” of Monday’s order. He said: “The order strongly reaffirms Indigo’s belief in the growth of India.”

India is a key battleground for airlines around the world, with the country’s fast-growing middle-class seen as a huge opportunity to drive growth.

Indigo’s record order gazumps flag carrier Air India, which earlier this year ordered 470 planes from Boeing and Airbus to revitalise its fleet.

Airbus commercial chief Christian Scherer said that Indigo was “democratising affordable air travel for millions of people”.

Mr Bhatia has become one of India’s richest men thanks to Indigo, with a fortune estimated at $5.4bn. He clashed with Mr Gangwal in 2019 in a row over governance at the company, by which point it was listed on the Indian stock exchange.

The argument resulted in Mr Gangwal quitting the board and agreeing to sell down his stake in the business.