IndiGo Seeks Extension on Boeing 777 Wet Lease with Civil Aviation Ministry

As India’s largest airline with a domestic market share exceeding 62%, IndiGo is constantly exploring ways to enhance its fleet and meet growing demand for international air travel.

However, as the lease term for these aircraft nears its end, IndiGo is in discussions with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to explore options for extending this arrangement.

IndiGo’s current wet lease of two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines has allowed the airline to manage increased demand on international routes, particularly on high-traffic routes connecting Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul.

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These Boeing 777s are the only wide-body aircraft in IndiGo’s fleet, which otherwise primarily consists of narrow-body planes suited for short to medium-haul routes.

The addition of wide-body planes under the wet lease arrangement has enabled IndiGo to offer greater capacity on these routes, an option that has proved valuable amid rising international travel demand from India.

Wet leasing allows IndiGo to operate these foreign-owned aircraft with crew and maintenance provided by Turkish Airlines, while Indian authorities oversee commercial operations. This leasing structure is particularly beneficial in situations indigo cadet where domestic carriers face capacity constraints, such as grounded aircraft.

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By leveraging wet-leased aircraft, indigo can maintain operational efficiency without overextending its own fleet. IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers highlighted the strategic advantage of the Boeing 777 addition when the second aircraft joined the fleet in May 2023.

He noted that the expanded capacity would not only support the airline’s growing international network but also help keep fares affordable for passengers, a crucial factor as IndiGo continues to cater to a diverse and price-sensitive market.