INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday allowed IndiGo to wet lease (lease with operating crew) 11 narrow
body Airbus A320 family aircraft for three months
The low cost carrier is planning to lease over 20 planes as Pratt - Whitney (PW) has warned upto 700 of its engines for the A320neo aircraft
will need to be examined in the next three years globally, leading to several planes required to be grounded
Since IndiGo is the largest A320 operator in the world, it is trying to lease as many as possible older gen A320ceos that are not impacted
to IndiGo for three months
These are all A320 family aircraft," said a senior DGCA official
government had last November doubled the period for which Indian airlines can wet lease wide body aircraft from six months to a year as a
With dozens of planes grounded, awaiting engines and components, and supply of ordered new aircraft affected from original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs), desi airlines with mega growth plans were unable to spread their wings fast enough to cope with the increased travel
demand.IndiGo has already wet leased (taken on lease with operating crew) two wide body aircraft from Turkish Airlines which are used to
operate a daily between Istanbul and Delhi and Mumbai
The single aisle A320neos were supposed to be more fuel efficient than the A320ceos but the issues with PW engines has now led IndiGo to
IndiGo could be badly hit by the new PW warning.
