Strike-hit Air India plans wet lease of aircraft
State-run Air India has invited bids for wet leasing of aircraft as its struggles to soften the effects of an ongoing strike by a section of its pilots.
"In order to meet urgent operational requirements and to open up new routes, Air India Limited invites bids for wet leasing of aircraft to operate its schedule services," it said in a tender document.
The embattled airline urgently requires both narrow body and medium capacity wide body Airbus and Boeing aircraft, it said.
Under wet lease, an airline provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and other services.
Pilots belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines have gone on strike since April 27 demanding better wages and pay parity with their Air India counterparts.
The two firms had merged in 2007.
Air India has said the strike forced it to curtail some 90 per cent of its domestic operations though international operations are running on schedule.
Air India has taken 18 chartered flights from Kingfisher Airlines and Air Arabia earlier this week to accommodate stranded passengers.
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