IndiGo gets DGCA nod to induct 11 A320 planes of SmartLynx Airlines: Sources

IndiGo aims to start taking delivery of the wet lease planes in the next two weeks, sources said

Budget carrier IndiGo has received approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to induct 11 A320 planes of SmartLynx Airlines, sources said on September 13.

The aircraft are to be acquired for a period of six months, the persons privy to the development added, further noting that the airline aims to start taking delivery of these wet lease planes in the next two weeks.

The plan is to lease 11 planes on short term wet leases, and then look at longer dry leases for another 11 aircraft, the sources claimed.

The development comes in the backdrop of the company noting that the issues related to the engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney will affect some its the aircraft.

"P&W's engine issues will affect some of our aircraft as well," Gaurav Negi, the airline's chief financial officer, said while speaking in the post-earnings conference call on August 2.

Notably, the DGCA had granted its approval to IndiGo in October last year for wet leasing aircraft for a period of six months.

Subsequently, in December, the airline opened reservations for wet-leased Boeing 777 aircraft for Delhi-Istanbul route. The plane was taken on wet lease from Turkish Airlines.

In March, the airline received nod from the civil aviation ministry to wet lease two aircraft for operating flights to the United States and Canada.

Under a wet leasing agreement, the aircraft are leased along with operating engineers and crew members. The arrangement is usually allowed by aviation sector regulators to address supply challenges, which, if left untackled, could lead to sharp surge in airfares.