What Is Wet Lease? Definition & Meaning in Aviation
A wet lease is an arrangement in which one airline rents an aircraft together with its crew, maintenance and insurance from another operator.
In plain language
It is often used for extra capacity during peak seasons such as Hajj, or to replace aircraft that are out of service. The flight is usually operated under the lessor’s safety oversight.
Example
An airline short of aircraft for the Hajj season may wet-lease aircraft from a foreign operator to fly extra services.
Why it matters
Wet leases explain why you may board an aircraft that looks different from the airline’s own fleet. The ticket still shows the airline you booked, but the crew and aircraft may belong to another company.