National air carrier Air India has invited bids to put three of its Boeing 777 aircraft on sub-lease. "We have plans to put three of our Boeing 777-200 (long range) aircraft on sub-lease," sources in National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) said. NACIL is the holding company formed after the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines into one single entity.

The company has invited request for proposal from global players for the purpose, they said adding bids would be accepted till November 17.

The Boeings, manufactured in 2007, are to be sub-leased for either short or long durations, sources said.

Under dry lease, an aircraft is leased by a company without the crew, while a wet-leased plane would have the crew, engineering facilities as well as insurance cover borne by the lessor.