Indian seeks two A-320 aircraft on dry lease

Increasing competition in the aviation industry and rising number of airlines have impacted the aircraft lease market as well. Carriers are now facing a shortage of desired planes in the aircraft lease market. Public carrier Indian which in February had sought to lease 12 wide-bodied aircraft has so far managed to get only two A-330s from the aircraft lease market and is now looking at leasing additional two A-320s.

‘‘We are looking at dry leasing two A-320 aircraft for a period of three to five years. We are looking at an idle delivery time between October 2006 and March 2007. We hope to deploy these planes on the domestic routes,’’ an Indian official said. The airline has embarked on a network expansion drive to take on the competition posed by the private sector players.