IndiGo Airlines Explores Leasing Options to Mitigate Aircraft Groundings

IndiGo Airlines is actively seeking to bolster its fleet through dry and wet leases, with plans to lease approximately 12 aircraft from the secondary market and up to eight additional airframes on a wet-lease basis. This strategic move aims to counteract the operational challenges posed by the grounding of several A320-200N and A321-200NX aircraft due to ongoing Pratt & Whitney engine issues. According to a report from Money Control, the Indian low-cost carrier is nearing the final stages of negotiation with Qatar Airways for five aircraft and with Ryanair for three, to secure additional capacity in anticipation of the upcoming summer schedule.

While IndiGo has not officially confirmed these negotiations, the airline has communicated its ongoing evaluation of available options, maintaining its policy of not commenting on speculative reports. Both Qatar Airways and Ryanair have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the potential agreements.

IndiGo currently wet-leases 12 aircraft, including two B777-300ERs from Turkish Airlines and ten A320-200s from SmartLynx Airlines entities. The airline’s substantial in-house fleet comprises 350 aircraft, with a significant portion of its A320neo family aircraft currently grounded due to technical issues.

The potential lease agreements, particularly with Ryanair, would mark a notable development for both carriers. Ryanair, traditionally focused on its European operations with a fleet of Boeing 737 variants and Airbus A320s through its subsidiary Lauda Europe, has not previously engaged in ACMI contracts of this nature and has expressed concerns over its own capacity due to delivery delays from Boeing.

This move by IndiGo reflects its proactive approach to maintaining operational capacity and service quality amidst ongoing fleet challenges, underscoring the airline’s commitment to meeting passenger demand as the busy summer travel season approaches.