GURUGRAM- IndiGo Airlines (6E), the largest low-cost carrier in India is set to end its Boeing 777 flights, which it operates from Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM) to Istanbul (IST), Turkey.
IndiGo currently operates two more than 15-year-old Boeing 777-300ER aircraft registered as TC-LKD and TC-LKE on wet or damp leases from Turkish Airlines (TK).
IndiGo Discontinues Boeing 777 Flights
According to Aeroroutes, Starting November 15, 2024, IndiGo will replace its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with Airbus A321neo planes on its Delhi and Mumbai routes to Istanbul. This change marks a substantial shift in capacity:
- Delhi – Istanbul:
- Flight 6E011: Departs Delhi at 06:40, and arrives in Istanbul at 11:15
- Flight 6E012: Departs Istanbul at 20:15, arrives in Delhi at 04:40 (next day)
- Mumbai – Istanbul:
- Flight 6E017: Departs Mumbai at 06:55, and arrives in Istanbul at 11:35
- Flight 6E018: Departs Istanbul at 20:15, arrives in Mumbai at 04:55 (next day)
Both routes will maintain a daily frequency. However, the switch from the 777-300ER to the A321neo will reduce the seating capacity from 531 to 222 per flight, a significant decrease of over 58%.
This move comes as India’s aviation regulatory body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) proposed strict rules and norms on wet leasing.
Actually, I heard a mixed reaction from individuals on Social media platforms that IndiGo is not getting sufficient passengers on the route while some said that 80% of flights are always full.
Well, it will be interesting to see what led IndiGo to discontinue the 777 service. If you have a clue then please let us know on social media posts.
DGCA Strict Norms on Leasing
According to DGCA, these changes aim to restrict leases to countries with robust safety oversight systems and standardize surveillance procedures for leased operations.
Indian carriers have increasingly relied on wet leases to address short-term aircraft groundings, particularly due to engine and supply chain issues. The DGCA’s draft proposal, released on September 12, outlines stringent criteria for lease agreements.
Under the proposed rules, aircraft can only be wet-leased from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) contracting states meeting specific safety benchmarks.
These states must have an average effective implementation score of at least 80 percent, with no less than 70 percent in personnel licensing, airworthiness, and operations, based on the latest ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) results.
Additionally, the lessor must not have any active significant safety concerns under USOAP.
The draft introduces new requirements for safety occurrence reporting, flight data sharing, and compliance with DGCA’s breath-analyzer policies for foreign crew. DGCA inspectors will have unrestricted access to all records for physical inspections at any time, ensuring thorough oversight.
The proposal also extends the maximum period for wet and damp leases. Currently limited to 3 months with a 3-month extension, the new regulations would allow for a 6-month initial period, with the possibility of an additional 6-month extension if necessary.
A321neo on International Routes
Apart from flying A321neo to Istanbul, IndiGo will deploy the aircraft on other international routes they are:
- Kolkata – Hanoi: A321neo replaces A320neo from October 15, 2024
- Delhi – Abu Dhabi: A321neo replaces A320neo from October 27, 2024
IndiGo also took six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on damp lease from Qatar Airways (QR) to operate flights between Doha (DOH) and India.
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IndiGo Adds New Flights to Singapore, Colombo and Kuwait
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