IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has been allowed to wet lease 11 Airbus A320 aircraft, a senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Wednesday.
A wet lease is an agreement in which an airline leases an aircraft and crew from another airline. This allows IndiGo to expand its fleet without having to purchase new aircraft.
The DGCA approval is a major boost for IndiGo, which has been facing a shortage of aircraft due to the global chip shortage. The airline has been forced to cancel hundreds of flights in recent months.
The wet lease agreement will allow IndiGo to add 11 aircraft to its fleet in the coming months. This will help the airline to improve its on-time performance and reduce cancellations.
The DGCA approval is subject to certain conditions, including the requirement for IndiGo to deploy the wet-leased aircraft on domestic routes only.
IndiGo is expected to take delivery of the wet-leased aircraft in the coming weeks. The airline has already started the process of hiring pilots and cabin crew for the new aircraft.
The wet lease agreement is a short-term measure to address IndiGo’s immediate fleet shortage. The airline is also in the process of ordering new aircraft, which are expected to be delivered in the next few years.
The DGCA approval is a positive development for IndiGo and for the Indian aviation industry as a whole. It will help to improve the availability of air seats and reduce cancellations, which will be beneficial for passengers.
Source: Deccan Herald
