IndiGo is in discussions with the Civil Aviation Ministry to extend its wet lease of two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines as the current lease period nears its November 14 expiration. These two wide-body Boeing 777s, operating on the Delhi-Istanbul and Mumbai-Istanbul routes, are the only wide-body planes in IndiGo’s fleet, which primarily consists of narrow-body aircraft.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline with over 62% of the domestic market share, initially introduced these Boeing 777s on February 1, 2023, for the Delhi-Istanbul route, followed by the Mumbai-Istanbul route on May 17, 2023. The wet-lease arrangement was established to meet the growing demand for international travel between India and Turkey, as the 777’s increased capacity allows for more passengers and cargo.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers highlighted that the Boeing 777s provide increased capacity on these key international routes while helping keep fares affordable. If an extension is granted, IndiGo could continue using these wide-body aircraft to strengthen its international operations, tapping into the high demand for travel from India to Istanbul and beyond.
