IndiGo (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Govt on Monday said the extension for IndiGo to wet lease aircraft (take on hire with operating crew) from Turkey only will next March “with a sunset clause that no further extension will be given”. Post Operation Sindoor, India had withdrawn security clearance for Turkish ground handling company Celebi & it had to withdraw from nine airports including Delhi & Mumbai. Govt had that time also asked IndiGo to retun the two wide body aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines by Aug 31. However, later this deadline for returning these two wide bodies was extended to next Feb end.On Monday, the aviation ministry shared the details of wet lease aircraft by Indian carriers, IndiGo and SpiceJet. IndiGo currently has 15 wet leased aircraft, of which seven are from Turkish companies. IndiGo has approval for taking eight more aircraft on wet lease, of which five are to come from Turkey’s Freebird Airlines. IndiGo has two Boeing 777s from Turkish Airlines that it can use till Feb 28, 2026, and five B737s from Turkey’s Corendon Airlines that it can use till March 31, 2026. It has approval for wet leasing five Airbus A320s from Turkey’s Freeboard Airlines, but these planes are yet to be inducted.
SpiceJet has 17 wet leased planes, none from any Turkish operator. The aviation ministry says wet leasing has been allowed “primarily keeping passenger interest in mind.”“Wet leasing of aircraft is a normal practice in the global aviation industry and recently due to grounding of aircraft because of engine related issues and the delays in delivery of aircraft against orders from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), many Indian carriers as a stop gap arrangement are resorting to wet lease from foreign companies in order to serve Indian passengers and also to utilise the rights provided to the Indian carriers under the bilateral service agreements with other countries,” the ministry statement said.“Indian carriers have accordingly taken aircraft on wet lease from various carriers including from Turkey. IndiGo has been permitted to operate aircraft on wet lease from Turkey with a last extension valid till March 2026 with a sunset clause that no further extension will be given. This is based on the undertaking submitted by Indigo airlines in the instant case wherein they have sought last time extension, since their long range aircraft (A321-XLR) are to be delivered by February 2026,” it added.