IndiGo Leases 7 Aircraft from Qatar Airways and Freebird to Solve Domestic

India's largest airline, IndiGo, has finalized agreements to wet-lease seven aircraft from Qatar Airways and [Freebird Airlines]. This strategic move is designed to immediately boost domestic capacity. It addresses significant fleet challenges caused by ongoing supply-side constraints in the global aviation industry.

The wet-lease arrangement involves leasing the aircraft, along with the cockpit crew, cabin crew, maintenance, and insurance. This provides a rapid, short-term solution for the carrier. The leases include two aircraft from [Qatar Airways] and five [Airbus A320] jets from Turkish operator [Freebird Airlines].

Capacity Push on Regional Routes

These seven aircraft are scheduled for induction between December 2025 and January 2026. Sources indicate the five [Airbus A320] aircraft from [Freebird Airlines] could arrive as early as January 2026. The primary operational hub for these newly inducted aircraft will be Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru).

[IndiGo] plans to deploy the [Freebird Airlines] fleet across its network. The focus will be on regional routes connecting [Bengaluru] to high-demand destinations. These include [Kolkata], [Ahmedabad], and [Surat]. This deployment aims to support the airline's efforts to manage rising passenger demand.

Navigating Fleet Groundings and Delays

This aggressive capacity push is a direct response to a critical aircraft shortage. The shortage is primarily due to issues with the [Pratt & Whitney] GTF engines powering the airline's [Airbus A320neo] family fleet. At one point, engine-related issues grounded approximately 70 of the airline's aircraft.

• The [DGCA] has curtailed [IndiGo]'s domestic schedule by 10 per cent.
• The airline continues to operate over 2,000 flights daily as part of its revised schedule.
• [IndiGo] currently holds a dominant 64.2% share of the domestic market.

Wet leasing is a temporary measure until new, long-range aircraft are delivered. [IndiGo] is awaiting the arrival of its [Airbus A321-XLR] jets. The airline has provided an undertaking to the DGCA that these new aircraft will be delivered by February 2026. The [A321-XLR] is key to the airline’s long-haul international expansion strategy.

Regulatory Oversight and Industry Practice

The [Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)] has granted permission for these wet-lease operations. The regulator allows wet leasing for domestic operations only under special circumstances. These circumstances include a lack of aircraft availability due to OEM delivery delays and engine-related grounding issues. The government views wet leasing as a normal practice in the global aviation industry.

The [DGCA] is currently working to streamline its DGCA wet lease regulations. This is to enhance oversight and facilitate smoother operations for Indian carriers. The new framework seeks to strengthen safety oversight. It ensures wet-leased aircraft are sourced from countries with reliable safety oversight systems.

To maintain regulatory compliance, [IndiGo] must regularly share its recruitment plan. This includes updated strength and training pipelines for pilots and cabin crew. These measures are intended to prevent roster shortages and issues linked to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).

This latest move is critical for [IndiGo] to stabilize its operations. It helps maintain service levels for passengers during a period of high demand. This is a significant piece of commercial aviation news for the Indian market and the wider industry. The use of wet leases highlights the persistent global challenges in the aircraft and engine supply chain.