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IndiGo Wet Leases A320
The Gurugram-based airline is currently grappling with several challenges related to its fleet, including the grounding of Airbus planes due to engine malfunctions, maintenance issues, and supply chain disruptions.
In response, IndiGo is increasingly opting for wet leases of various aircraft, including Airbus A320s, Boeing 737 MAXs, and 777s. The airline has now secured four Airbus A320s from Freebird Airlines.
Freebird Airlines, an international carrier operating from Turkey and Malta, is a subsidiary of Gözen Holding. It focuses on both scheduled and charter flights to popular European vacation spots, with Antalya Airport as its primary hub.
With a fleet of 14 aircraft, Freebird Airlines services over 100 destinations and has a European subsidiary that operates three dedicated aircraft.
IndiGo will wet lease the four Airbus A320s, which have previously operated the following flights from Antalya (AYT):
- FH901, operated by the 13.8-year-old TC-FBV
- FH903, operated by the 16.8-year-old TC-FHF
- FH915, operated by the 15.8-year-old TC-FHC
- FH917, operated by the 11.1-year-old TC-FHP
All these aircraft are leased from Freebird and are equipped with CFM 56-5A engines, known for their reliability and ease of maintenance. Notably, nearly 60% of Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 aircraft globally utilize these engine variants.
Some of these aircraft have already arrived or are expected to arrive safely at Delhi International Airport (DEL), where they will undergo inspections by the 6E Maintenance department. Once all checks are completed, they will be assigned to their respective routes.
Details regarding the specific routes these aircraft will operate are still pending, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Wet-leasing has become a standard practice for IndiGo.
The airline has secured wet-leased aircraft from various carriers, including SmartLynx Airlines (6Y), Qatar Airways (QR), Corendon Airlines (XC), and Turkish Airlines (TK), among others.
Currently, IndiGo's wet-leased fleet comprises over 20 A320ceo aircraft, 10 737 MAX 8, two 737-800, and two 777s.
The Indian low-cost carrier primarily utilizes the A320ceo for domestic routes, while it operates six 737 MAX on flights between Doha and India. The remaining 737s are assigned to high-demand domestic routes. The 777s are exclusively used for the Delhi-Istanbul and Mumbai-Istanbul routes.
IndiGo's total fleet consists of 434 aircraft, with 87 currently inactive due to various factors, including maintenance issues, grounding, and parts shortages.