Flexible and cost-effective solutions designed for airlines needing expanded capacity or managing seasonal demand changes — without the complexity of aircraft ownership.
ACMI stands for Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance — the four elements the lessor provides. The client receives a complete operational package and pays for block hours flown, rather than taking on the capital cost, crew recruitment and maintenance planning that ownership demands.
It is the fastest route to added capacity. An airline that has lost an aircraft to unscheduled maintenance, won a new route, or faces a demand peak it cannot cover from its own fleet can be flying within days instead of quarters.
The right structure depends on whether you have crew, an AOC and maintenance capability of your own — and on how long you need the aircraft.
The full package: aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance provided by the lessor. You supply the route, the passengers and the commercial risk; everything operational comes with the aircraft.
Best when: you need capacity quickly and do not want to add crew or engineering resource.
Aircraft only. You operate it under your own AOC using your own crew, maintenance programme and insurance arrangements — the lowest cost per hour of the three structures.
Best when: you are an established operator with spare crew capacity and a longer time horizon.
Aircraft with crew and maintenance, excluding insurance, which the lessee arranges. A middle path when you have insurance cover in place but not the crew or engineering to match.
Best when: you need operational support but hold your own hull and liability cover.
| Element | ACMI Lease | Wet Lease | Dry Lease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft | Provided by lessor | Provided by lessor | Provided by lessor |
| Crew | Provided by lessor | Provided by lessor | Supplied by lessee |
| Maintenance | Provided by lessor | Provided by lessor | Managed by lessee |
| Insurance | Provided by lessor | Arranged by lessee | Arranged by lessee |
| Typical duration | Weeks to a season | Weeks to months | Months to years |
Our lease arrangements support both domestic Indian operations and international carriers, with solutions tailored to unique client requirements rather than pulled off a standard rate card. Terms, aircraft type and duration are all negotiable against what the route actually needs.
Where a suitable aircraft is available and the regulatory approvals on the route are straightforward, ACMI capacity can typically be operating within days rather than months. The gating factors are usually regulatory permissions and crew licensing for the jurisdiction, not the aircraft itself.
ACMI arrangements are commonly written for a few weeks up to a full season; dry leases generally run for months or years, since the lessee must add the type to their own operating certificate. Shorter ad-hoc requirements are often better served by a straightforward charter — we will say so if that is the case.
Under a standard ACMI arrangement, the lessee normally covers fuel, airport and navigation charges, ground handling and passenger-related costs, while the lessor covers aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance. Exact allocation is set out in the lease agreement.
On longer arrangements, partial or full livery application can often be negotiated. On short-term ACMI, aircraft typically operate in the lessor's colours with cabin-level branding — headrest covers, service items and announcements — reflecting your airline.
Tell us the route, the period and the aircraft type you have in mind — we will structure the lease.
