DGCA Allows IndiGo To Wet Lease Wide-Body Planes From Turkish Airlines

The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved IndiGo's proposal to wet lease wide-body Boeing planes from Turkish Airlines for up to six months while rejecting the request to lease the planes for up to two years, according to the media reports. 

DGCA denied the request to wet lease the aircraft for a longer period, citing the risk of diversion of traffic rights in collusion with a strong foreign carrier that will primarily feed the latter's hub abroad with more passengers from India.

IndiGo's request to wet lease wide-body aircraft from Turkish Airlines for three months, with the option to extend the lease for another three months. The DGCA has denied the domestic airline's request to wet lease the aircraft for up to two years.

IndiGo, which presently only has narrow-body planes in its fleet, decided to lease wide-body jets in order to increase international travel capacity and fulfil expanding demand. There are now supply concerns from engine manufacturers Pratt & Whitney and CFM, resulting in several IndiGo and Go First Airbus A320 flights being grounded.

Wet leasing of planes is often permitted for short periods to address supply limitations and ensure that airfares do not increase. Under a wet lease arrangement, planes are leased with operational crew and engineers.