DELHI- India’s largest low-cost carrier, IndiGo Airlines (6E) is in discussions with India’s civil aviation ministry to extend its wet lease of Boeing 777 planes from Turkish Airlines (TK), as the current lease period ends this week.
Currently, IndiGo operates two wet-leased Boeing 777s on routes from Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM) to Istanbul (IST)—its only widebody aircraft.
IndiGo Boeing 777 Lease Status
The airline, India’s largest with a 62% domestic market share, leased these planes to meet the surge in international travel demand from India.
IndiGo began operating the Boeing 777 on the Delhi-Istanbul route on February 1, 2023 and launched the aircraft on the Mumbai-Istanbul route on May 17, 2023. However, according to sources, IndiGo has not yet secured an extension to continue operating these aircraft.
An IndiGo spokesperson confirmed that the airline is “working with the ministry to explore solutions to extend the wet lease, as our AOG (Aircraft On Ground)-related capacity constraints, while improving, are not entirely resolved.” IndiGo will continue operating the two Boeing 777s on flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul until November 14.
Starting November 15, IndiGo will replace the wet-leased Boeing 777s on its Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul routes with A321 aircraft, as Aviation A2Z reported. A wet lease arrangement enables an Indian airline to lease foreign aircraft along with crew, maintenance, and insurance, with operational control and safety oversight under the jurisdiction of the foreign lessor’s civil aviation authority.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers noted that the addition of the Boeing 777s earlier this year had increased capacity on the Istanbul route and helped keep fares affordable. The 777s, configured with 24 business and 376 economy seats, provided a 400-passenger capacity.
IndiGo’s capacity has been strained by Pratt & Whitney engine issues, grounding a portion of its fleet. In October, IndiGo reported reducing grounded aircraft from the mid-70s to the high 60s, with plans to bring this number below 60 by year-end.
The airline recently placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900s to operate long-haul international flights.
DGCA Leasing Norms
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued draft norms aimed at tightening leasing standards, allowing Indian carriers to lease only from countries with strong safety oversight systems. This proposal, released on September 12, standardizes surveillance protocols for wet-leased operations.
Indian airlines, facing short-term aircraft groundings due to engine and supply chain issues, have increasingly turned to wet leases. Under the DGCA’s proposed rules, only ICAO contracting states meeting strict safety standards can serve as lessors.
These countries must achieve an effective implementation score of at least 80% and no less than 70% in personnel licensing, airworthiness, and operations, as per the latest ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
Additionally, the lessor must have no active significant safety concerns under USOAP. The draft also requires strict reporting of safety occurrences, data sharing, and compliance with DGCA breath-analyzer policies for foreign crews. DGCA inspectors will have unrestricted access to all records for physical inspections, ensuring rigorous oversight.
The proposal further extends the allowable duration of wet and damp leases. Currently capped at a 3-month term with a possible 3-month extension, the new rules would permit an initial 6-month lease, with an additional 6-month extension if necessary.
Airbus A320 Leases
Recently, IndiGo received government approval to extend the wet lease of 11 Airbus A320 aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted this extension to support IndiGo’s operations as it faces high passenger demand and engine-related Aircraft on-ground (AOG) issues.
Last year, IndiGo secured DGCA approval to lease these A320s from SmartLynx Airlines (6Y) under a wet lease, which includes crew and maintenance support, providing a temporary solution for IndiGo’s fleet expansion amid supply challenges. The extended leases are expected to strengthen IndiGo’s competitiveness in India’s rapidly growing aviation market.
IndiGo’s current fleet includes over 20 A320ceo aircraft on damp and secondary leases and six Boeing 737s leased from Qatar Airways. As of October 2024, IndiGo operates 384 aircraft: 24 A320ceos, 200 A320neos, 112 A321neos, 45 ATRs, and three A321 freighters.
Chief Financial Officer Gaurav Negi reported in a recent analyst call that AOGs are decreasing, with numbers expected to fall to the mid-40s by April 2025, reducing AOG-related costs. As the AOG situation stabilizes, IndiGo plans to phase out its damp-leased aircraft. For the second quarter, IndiGo’s operating lease liabilities stood at ₹47,779.4 crore.
Feature Image by Kaan Can Ozdemir
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