New Delhi, Dec 16 (UiTV/IANS) – After receiving in-principle approval for inducting B777 aircraft on a wet lease basis from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), IndiGo has now applied for final approval from the aviation regulator DGCA for these operations as per the prescribed procedure.
In coordination with the process of these approvals, IndiGo will soon make this 777-capacity available for sale on the Delhi – Istanbul – Delhi route, subject to regulatory approvals.
“We are working closely with the authorities to ensure all the required steps to obtain the approvals are completed well in time and will consider the earliest the go-live date for these aircraft in line with expected receipt of requisite approvals. This wet lease solution will also enable us to better utilize our A321 narrow body fleet to continue our network deployment in light of the global supply chain issues,” said the Indigo Spokesperson.
IndiGo airline is planning to wet lease aircrafts to meet the growing demand for air travel. Under ‘wet lease’ arrangement, the lessor maintains operational control of flights while providing aircraft and crew.
Keeping in view the demand and growth in the aviation traffic, Indigo is looking to expand its fleet and International operations.
Earlier, on the occasion of declaring recent financial results of the airline, Indigo CEO Pieter Elbers said, “We are on a steady path to recovery, benefiting from enormous opportunities both in domestic and international markets. With an industry challenged by global supply chain disruptions, we are working on various counter measures to accommodate this strong demand. We have an unparalleled network presence enabling air travel to 74 domestic and 26 International destinations, we will continue to accelerate and build on this.”
As of September 30, a fleet of 279 aircraft, including 26 A320 CEOs, 149 A320 NEOs, 68 A321 NEOs, 35 ATRs and 1 A321 freighter; there was a net decrease of three passenger aircraft during the quarter. IndiGo operated at a peak of 1,630 daily flights during the quarter, including non-scheduled flights.
Scindia launches non-stop flight between Mumbai and San Francisco
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday launched first-ever non-stop flight between Mumbai and San Francisco.
Air India will operate the flight three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays with the newly-inducted Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. This will take Air India’s India-US frequency to 40 non-stop flights per week.
Presently, Air India operates non-stop flights from Mumbai to Newark, from Delhi to New York, Newark, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Chicago, and from Bengaluru to San Francisco. This will be the third Indian city after Delhi and Bengaluru to have a direct flight to San Francisco.
On the new flight launch, the Minister said: “Today is a historic day for Maharashtra, India, and Air India. The civil aviation sector in India is on the cusp of transformation, and India is the third largest civil aviation market in the world with a growth of 10.6 per cent CAGR in the last ten years. Air India has played a significant role in the sector’s transformation in the past and will continue to contribute to the growth of the industry. With Air India’s legacy, culture, and vision, the airline will take Indian civil aviation to newer heights.”
The first flight AI 179 from Mumbai to San Francisco left Mumbai on time at 2.30 p.m. to arrive in San Francisco at a convenient 5 p.m. (local time) on the same day.
Air Indian CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said: “As part of our five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, we plan to significantly enhance connectivity between India’s major cities and prime global destinations. The non-stop flight between India’s financial capital and Silicon Valley is a step towards achieving enhanced customer experience. With the launch of this route, we will have a weekly availability of 40 non-stop flights that will bolster India’s connectivity with the US.”
Air India continues to develop Mumbai as an important hub for international as well as domestic traffic. The launch of the Mumbai-San Francisco route will be followed by Mumbai-New York City (JFK), Mumbai-Frankfurt, and Mumbai-Paris. Additional domestic flights originating from Mumbai will also be added.