India's aviation regulator has drawn a firm line for the country's largest carrier, IndiGo, regarding its use of aircraft leased from Turkish companies. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stated that no further extensions will be granted beyond March 2026 for the wet-leased planes, with two specific wide-body jets required to depart even sooner.
The DGCA's Final Decision
In a clear directive issued late on Monday, December 23, 2025, the DGCA clarified the timeline for IndiGo's wet-lease arrangements with Turkish carriers. The regulator confirmed that the permission for IndiGo to operate these aircraft is valid only until March 2026, accompanied by a "sunset clause" that explicitly rules out any further extension. This decision puts an end to media speculation about a potential six-month extension for two Boeing 777 aircraft.
The clarification specifically addresses the fleet of seven aircraft currently on wet lease from Turkey. This includes five Boeing 737 planes from Corendon Airlines, whose lease is valid until the end of March. More urgently, the lease for the two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines is valid only until the end of February 2026 and has not been extended. A senior DGCA official confirmed that these wide-body jets must return after February.
Background and Rationale
The DGCA's stance is based on an undertaking submitted by IndiGo, in which the airline sought a final extension citing the impending delivery of its own long-range aircraft. The regulator noted that IndiGo's Airbus A321-XLR aircraft are scheduled for delivery by February 2026, which would reduce the airline's dependency on wet-leased capacity.
This decision follows a period of geopolitical tension. After Turkey's public backing of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, which sparked backlash in India, the DGCA had initially informed IndiGo that lease extensions for the two Boeing 777s would not be allowed beyond August 2025. However, in August, the regulator granted a one-time final extension until February-end upon IndiGo's request, with the current order being the definitive close to that arrangement.
Wet Leasing in Indian Aviation
The DGCA acknowledged that wet leasing is a standard global practice and has been particularly utilized by Indian carriers recently due to operational challenges. Engine-related groundings and delays in aircraft deliveries from manufacturers (OEMs) have forced airlines to use wet leases as a stop-gap solution to serve passengers and utilize bilateral flying rights.
In a typical wet lease, the lessor provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance, retaining operational control. This contrasts with a dry lease, where only the aircraft is provided, and the lessee airline handles crew, maintenance, and operations. Wet leases are ideal for short-term capacity boosts or route testing.
Currently, IndiGo operates 15 wet-leased aircraft in total, with eight more awaiting induction. Apart from Turkish carriers, IndiGo has sourced planes from Norway's Norse Atlantic Airways, Qatar Airways, and Latvia's SmartLynx Airlines. The only other Indian airline using wet-leased aircraft is SpiceJet, which operates 17 such planes, all from European operators.
The DGCA emphasized that these wet-lease arrangements, including those with Turkish carriers, were permitted keeping "passenger interest in mind" to ensure continuity of service. IndiGo has been using the two wet-leased Boeing 777s for its flights to Istanbul from Delhi and Mumbai.
With the March deadline now fixed, IndiGo will need to rely on the timely delivery of its new A321-XLR fleet and other internal adjustments to maintain its network capacity, marking the end of a specific chapter in its growth strategy that relied on Turkish wet-leased aircraft.
