Many A320s are parked at Indian airports due to engine problems, thus IndiGo is thinking at short-term wet leasing of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to keep them operational.
Wet leasing five Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is apparently something IndiGo and Qatar Airways are discussing as a method to address capacity constraints. This calculated action intends to mitigate the capacity impact of the stranded A320 fleet, particularly during the peak summer travel season. Under the terms of the six-month lease, IndiGo would oversee the cabin staff while Qatar Airways would supply the cockpit crew and fleet maintenance.
The business class cabin of the wet-leased Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will be sold by Qatar Airways, and the aircraft would only be used on the India-Qatar route, according to sources.
With more than 300 aircraft in its fleet, IndiGo is now dealing with over 70 Airbus A320 family planes that are grounded because of problems with their Pratt & Whitney engines. Problems with the worldwide supply chain and delays in the delivery of new engines have made the issue worse. The airline's operational capacity is anticipated to be impacted by the grounding, which is anticipated to run into the final quarter of the fiscal year (January to April, 2024).
IndiGo has used wet leasing in the past to keep its hegemonic status in the Indian domestic market. The airline has already obtained regulatory authority to wet lease Airbus A320s and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from Turkish Airlines. When the grounded A320s will be back in service is still up in the air.
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