The DGCA approves the induction of 11 SmartLynx Airlines A320 aircraft by IndiGo

14 Sep 2023 , 10:16 AM

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given budget airline IndiGo permission to take on 11 A320 aircraft from SmartLynx Airlines, according to reports on September 13.

The news reports noted that the airline plans to begin taking delivery of these wet lease jets within the next two weeks and that the aircraft will be acquired for a duration of six months.

According to the reports, the strategy is to lease 11 aircraft for brief wet leases before looking at lengthier dry leases for an additional 11 aircraft.

The revelation comes after the business warned that some of its planes will be impacted by problems with Pratt & Whitney engines.

During the August 2 post-earnings conference call, the airline’s chief financial officer, Gaurav Negi, stated that ‘P&W’s engine issues will affect some of our aircraft as well.’

Notably, IndiGo received authorisation from the DGCA in October of last year to wet lease aircraft for a six-month period.

The airline then began taking reservations for wet-leased Boeing 777 aircraft for the Delhi-Istanbul route in December. Turkish Airlines gave us a wet lease on the aircraft.

The airline was given the go-ahead by the civil aviation ministry in March to wet lease two aircraft to operate flights to the US and Canada.

In a wet leasing arrangement, the crew and operating engineers for the aircraft are also leased. Regulators in the airline industry often approve the arrangement to manage supply issues that, if not resolved, may trigger a dramatic increase in airfares.

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