IndiGo has reportedly received the Indian civil aviation ministry’s consent to wet lease up to two aircraft to operate long haul flights to US and Canada.
The ministry official, on condition of anonymity, revealed that the ministry has given approval for IndiGo to wet lease up to two widebody aircraft which can be used for flying to the US and Canada.
In February 2023, IndiGo began using the widebody Boeing 777 on the Delhi-Istanbul route for the first time. Turkish Airlines has granted wet lease access to the aircraft. The ministry has given the airline the go-ahead to wet lease two aircraft for use on this route.
In a recent media briefing, IndiGo CEO, Pieter Elbers had claimed that the airline is keeping the option of operating widebody aircraft open, but didn’t specify any details.
"IndiGo has never ruled out any option. We do have a significant order book. We have almost 500 aircraft on order... We have a steady stream of deliveries coming. Our focus and emphasis will be on that part. We do have the XLRs order that will further stretch the range of operations for IndiGo," Elbers had said.
Meanwhile, it could not be immediately ascertained whether IndiGo has firmed up plans on operating flights to the US and Canada.