During peak travel seasons, airlines often require additional aircraft and seating capacity to meet increased demand. Partnering with providers offering aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) allows carriers to address seasonal or ad-hoc operational needs effectively.

In the summer of 2025, over 22,000 flights per month were operated under dry or wet lease agreements in Europe alone, led by operators such as Avion Express, SmartLynx, and Air Baltic. These specialized lessors support airlines by supplying additional capacity – whether for a handful of short-notice flights, aircraft-on-ground (AOG) situations, schedule stabilization, or extended periods covering a marketing carrier’s flight program.

While essential, these leasing arrangements present challenges, particularly regarding schedule reliability and operational efficiency. Wet lease providers may lack experience in tight schedules or complex operational environments. Therefore, integrating a lease partner into the marketing carrier’s operational framework requires a situational assessment and detailed planning.

Five Key Levers for Seamless Lease Operations

1. Integrate Lease Partners into Operational Procedures
Pre-departure onboarding is critical. Lease carrier staff must be familiarized with the marketing carrier’s operational procedures, mindset, and response protocols – both in regular and disrupted operations. For mid- to long-term wet leases, where a portion of the marketing carrier’s schedule is covered, appointing dedicated liaison officers on both sides ensures effective collaboration through defined points of contact. Seamless operations require shared access to flight data, and partners must exchange all relevant operational metrics. For ad-hoc leases, standardized checklists should cover key operational aspects. Regardless of the lease duration, all operations must fully comply with the marketing carrier’s regulatory standards.

2. Prioritize Turnaround Performance for Schedule Reliability
Ensuring an on-time first flight and tightly managed turnarounds throughout the day is essential for maintaining punctuality. Lessees often lack reference models for rapid turnarounds, so adopting the marketing carrier’s standard turnaround templates – detailing sequence and timing of ground operations – is vital. These plans should cover every aspect of turnaround: crew arrival, boarding sequences, cutoff times, loading procedures, and process standards. When operating under tight schedules (e.g. 45-minute turnarounds typical of low-cost and leisure carriers), all parties involved – from flight crews to station teams and lease airline OCC – must be aligned and capable of meeting precise time targets. Poor alignment can increase ground time by up to 25%, driving delay-related costs of approximately 40 euros per minute. Special emphasis should be placed on punctuality for the first flight of the day, as early disruptions are particularly difficult to recover from.

3. Establish Real-time Data Sharing
Effective monitoring, control, and decision-making depend on real-time data. Gaps in this area can cause operational disruptions, especially when multiple entities are involved. Both the marketing carrier and the lease operator must prioritize real-time data sharing – such as timestamps, delay codes, and slot details. Messaging formats must be harmonized across all relevant areas, from aircraft and passenger services to cargo manifests and passenger lists. Data exchange must be bidirectional: Marketing carriers should also update lease partners promptly on any developments that could impact operations.

4. Enable Robust Operational Communication
Information about the aircraft and crew status of wet lease flights is vital for marketing carriers, especially when disruptions occur. Clear communication ensures timely alternative solutions, accurate customer updates, and overall visibility into impacted flight segments. A mutual communication chain must be defined and reinforced, particularly during irregular operations. Regular operational stand-ups between lease partners should assess performance and identify corrective actions for recurring issues. Stations must also be kept well-informed about lease carrier specifics, including seating configurations, special passenger needs, and the handling of live animals (animal vivant in hold [AVIH], pet in cabin [PETC]).

5. Prioritize Transparent Customer Communication
Customer trust and regulatory compliance go hand in hand. Airlines must inform passengers about the lease operator across all digital and physical touchpoints. Meeting minimum regulatory requirements is essential, but going further – by building trust and transparency – improves the overall passenger experience. Deploying marketing carrier crew representatives on lease flights and standardizing in-flight announcements can enhance familiarity and confidence. Close coordination between operations and product teams is necessary to ensure a consistent customer journey throughout the lease arrangement.

A well-structured operational framework between the marketing and operating carrier yields significant benefits: improved punctuality, enhanced stability, and increased efficiency – while minimizing process discrepancies. Most importantly, it fosters a strong, trust-based partnership. When executed effectively, lease operations can mitigate cost risks and operational challenges, and meet the high expectations of today’s airline customers at the same time.

Author:

Sascha Vogel is a Managing Consultant and member of the Solution Group Solution Group Infrastructure and Operations at Lufthansa Consulting.

Sascha Vogel