Can SpiceJet, IndiGo and other Indian airlines afford wet leasing aircraft amid inflationary pressure?

India’s aviation sector plans to wet lease aircraft for the winter season, striving to fly out of the air pockets it was forced into by the coronavirus-induced crisis ranging from grounded aircraft during lockdowns to the elevated fuel prices that eat into its revenues.

Now that the infections have subsided, airlines would look to go all out particularly in this festive season. On that note, Indian airlines are not ready to sit back and wait for the delivery of new aircraft. Instead, they are wet leasing planes to shore up capacity for the winter schedule.