Insight for ACMI and Charter Capacity

How to Secure ACMI Wet Leasing for Airlines in Peak Seasons

07/12/2025

Peak season is coming. Summer schedules, holiday travel surges, hajj and Umrah operations, and major sporting events will stretch your fleet to the limit. Delaying action means lost slots, unhappy passengers, and millions in missed revenue.

ACMI wet leasing (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) remains the fastest and most flexible way to add capacity without buying aircraft. Airlines that plan early and negotiate smartly secure the best aircraft at the lowest rates. Those who wait pay premium prices or get nothing at all.

This step-by-step guide shows exactly how to lock in reliable wet leasing for airlines before the rush hits. Follow it, and you will turn seasonal headaches into competitive advantage.

Why ACMI Wet Lease Is Perfect for Peak-Season Capacity

  • Aircraft ready in 2 to 8 weeks (versus 12 to 36 months for new purchases)
  • Full operational package: no need to hire or train extra crew
  • Pay only for the hours or months you need
  • Immediate access to in-demand types (A320/321neo, B737 MAX, A330, etc.)

In 2025 alone, European and Middle Eastern carriers added more than 180 aircraft on short-term ACMI contracts to cover the post-COVID summer rebound and multiple large events.

Step-by-Step: How to Secure ACMI Wet Leasing Before Rates Skyrocket

Step 1: Forecast Your Exact Need (6 to 9 Months Out)

Start with data-driven charter capacity planning. Pull forward booking curves and historical load factors for every route. Add known events (Eid, school holidays, FIFA or Olympic periods). Identify the exact number of extra aircraft, type, configuration, and base required. Build in a 10 to 15 percent buffer because availability disappears fast.

Pro move: Create a "Seasonal Demand Heatmap" by week. This single document becomes your negotiation superpower.

Step 2: Build Your Shortlist of Reliable ACMI Providers (Now)

Do not wait until you are desperate. The best operators get booked 6 to 12 months ahead.

Top-tier wet lease providers with strong 2025 to 2026 availability:

  • SmartLynx Airlines (A320 and B737 MAX)
  • GetJet Airlines (A320 and B737)
  • Avion Express (A320 family)
  • Hi Fly (A330 and A340 widebody specialists)
  • European Air Charter (B737 and MD-82 classics)
  • Mavi Gok Airlines, Air Atlanta Icelandic, EuroAtlantic

Cross-check safety records on the IOSA registry and request recent customer references.

Step 3: Issue a Structured RFI/RFP Early

Send a concise Request for Information 6 to 8 months before you need the aircraft. Include exact dates and block hours, preferred base and crew nationality requirements, cabin configuration and branding rules, fuel policy preference (fixed versus index), and the termination clauses you need.

The earlier you go to market, the more options you will have and the lower the rate will be.

Step 4: Negotiate Like a Pro (Avoid the Classic Pitfalls)

Five common mistakes cost airlines millions every peak season:

  1. Accepting "market rate plus premium" without a cap → Lock in a fixed block-hour rate or cap escalation at 5 to 7 percent.
  2. Vague fuel clauses → Choose a fixed fuel price or a clear index plus margin (for example, Platts plus $25 per metric ton).
  3. No step-in rights on crew → Require 14 to 21 days of crew acclimatisation on your routes before peak operations start.
  4. Weak delivery and redelivery conditions → Define exact technical condition and C-check status to avoid delays and extra costs.
  5. Missing sub-charter approval → Ensure the lessor cannot re-lease your aircraft to someone else if you cancel early.

Real-world example: In summer 2024, a major Asian carrier saved $2.8 million on four A321s simply by switching from an indexed fuel clause to a fixed-price fuel burn agreement.

Step 5: Sign Early and Secure Slots

The golden rule: the first airline to sign the Letter of Intent with deposit gets the aircraft. Operators will hold aircraft for 7 to 14 days maximum. After that, they move to the next bidder.

Step 6: Onboard Smoothly

  • Joint operations manual review 60 days prior
  • Crew familiarisation flights
  • Full branding and livery application (if required)
  • Real-time performance monitoring dashboard
Share