Indigo receives six months approval to operate two Boeing 777 aircraft rented from Turkish Airlines

India’s airlines regulator, the Civil Aviation (DGCA) Directorate General, approved its approval on Thursday, August 28, 2025, to operate the two Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft rented for a six-month period of the Turkish Airlines, reports the news agency Pti. India’s largest low-cost airline operator said it had received an extension of its ‘wet rental arrangement’ with Turkish Airlines, subject to the terms of the regulator. A wet rental agreement is a kind of leasing arrangement where the landlord provides the aircraft, a complete cabin crew and complete insurance on the aircraft. “We recognize the acceptance of Indigo’s request for extension to its wet lease with Turkish Airlines, subject to conditions laid down by the regulator,” the company said in an official statement, according to the agency report. Extension details The extensive lease agreement comes three months after DGCA approved a one-time three-month-old final extension, which allowed the airline to operate the Turkish Airline ownership until August 31, 2025. According to the agency report, the regulator asked the airline not to ask for further expansion for the lease agreement. The move of the aviation regulator is coming against the backdrop of Turkey supporting Pakistan, while condemning India over the strikes in the terrorist camps in Operation Sindoor earlier this year following the Pahalgam terror attack. According to a Reuters report that a person who is aware of the development, the extensive lease agreement of Indigo with Turkish Airlines is scheduled to expire on February 28, 2026. Benefits of the rental extension The airline also said that the expansion of the Turkish Airlines Wet is coming at a time when the aircraft sector is expected to reduce due to geopolitan recovery. “This approval comes at an important time and will help reduce losses to Indian aviation due to geopolitical restrictions, and the Indian travelers greatly benefit during the peak season by securing a seamless, direct connection to Istanbul and further points,” the airline said in a statement, according to the agency report. The two Boeing 777-300 ER lease contracts will expire on August 31, 2025, as Indigo plans to use the aircraft to operate direct flight routes from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul. Indigo also said that the expansion offers much -needed continuity and stability in operations, allowing the airline operator to serve better with the increasing demand for international travel in the industry. In the statement on Thursday, Indigo said that given the current geopolitical challenges, expansion provides much -needed continuity and stability in operations, allowing it to better serve the growing demand for international travel. “We are grateful for the authorities for accepting our request for expansion. As always, we still keep complying with the appropriate regulations and conditions of extension laid down by the authorities,” the airline said in an official statement.