Air India is on the lookout in the global market for three medium-capacity, long-range aircraft, likely through a wet-lease route, to maintain its schedules in the winter season starting October.
While dry-lease implies leasing of the aircraft only, wet-lease means inducting the pilots and cabin crew as well.
However, officials said the airline was not looking at inducting cabin crew, but could induct pilots along with the three aircraft.
The officials said in case the planes were not available on dry-lease, Air India could go for wet-lease only with cockpit crew, maintenance and insurance.
The cabin crew in these aircraft would be its own.
Such a method of leasing the three aircraft would help the airline meet the challenge posed by pilot shortage in the country, they said.
The three aircraft, which Air India is considering to lease, are Boeing 747-400s or Boeing 777-200 ER (Extended Range) for a period of two years.
The officials said the airline would face difficulties with the lease of some aircraft currently in its fleet expiring soon and would have to be returned to the lessor.
{{/usCountry}}The officials said the airline would face difficulties with the lease of some aircraft currently in its fleet expiring soon and would have to be returned to the lessor.
{{/usCountry}}The induction of these leased planes would be a stop-gap arrangement till the delivery of 68 brand new aircraft Air India has ordered from Boeing start in November and continue till 2012.
The international flagship has signed an agreement with US manufacturer Boeing to acquire 27 B-787s, eight B 777-200 LRs (Long Range) and 15 B 777-300 ER at an estimated cost of Rs 38,000 crore. It has also ordered 18 more aircraft for its subsidiary, Air India Express.