Airlines

Indigo to add Boeing 777 wide body aircraft in its fleet.

This aircraft will operate flights to and from the United States and Europe.

IndiGo inducts second Boeing 777 aircraft, to operate on Mumbai-Istanbul route

After the previous receipt of in-principle approval for inducting B777 aircraft on a wet lease basis from MOCA, IndiGo has now applied for final DGCA approval for these operations as per the prescribed procedure. In coordination with the process of these approvals, IndiGo will soon make this 777-capacity available for sale on the Delhi – Istanbul – Delhi route, subject to regulatory approvals.

We are working closely with the authorities to ensure all the required steps to obtain the approvals are completed well in time and will consider the earliest go-live date for these aircraft in line with the expected receipt of requisite approvals.

This wet lease solution will also enable us to better utilize our A321 narrowbody fleet to continue our network deployment in light of the global supply chain issues.

As part of its ongoing attempts to turn India into a significant international air traffic center, the civil aviation ministry has permitted Indian airlines to take wide-body aircraft on wet lease for up to one year.

Indigo’s New B777 wide-body Fleet

Till now, wet leasing of wide-body planes was allowed only for up to six months. In a statement on Sunday, the nation’s largest airline, IndiGo, said it had contacted the government and been given permission to wet/damp lease aircraft for a six-month period that may be extended by another six months.

IndiGo to operate widebody aircraft this winter(Opens in a new browser tab)

According to a statement, all Indian carriers may request this relaxation, and the government would take their request into account based on the overseas destinations the airline plans to operate.

The airline stated that it has plans to introduce B777 aircraft on a wet/damp lease basis during the current winter schedule and that it is now working to finalize the contract for the wet/damp lease.

The aviation authority’s DGCA gave IndiGo permission last month to wet lease wide-body Boeing aircraft from Turkish Airlines for a maximum of six months. Wet lease contracts involve the leasing of aircraft along with the engineers and flight attendants.

Air India is leasing six Boeing 777s for North American operations.(Opens in a new browser tab)

According to a representative of the ministry, Indian airlines that want to operate aircraft on wet lease to destinations in the United States and Europe will be granted approval to do so for up to a year. A representative from the ministry claimed that the proposal of permitting wet leasing of aircraft for a longer duration will allow Indian carriers to fly additional wide-body aircraft.

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Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.