Following Turkey's alignment with Pakistan and adopting an anti-India stance, IndiGo has made the strategic choice to terminate its partnership with Turkish Airlines. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced on Friday that IndiGo's 'damp lease' agreement will cease on August 31, 2025. This decision aligns with the government's final three-month extension, designed to ensure passenger services remain uninterrupted.
Currently, IndiGo has been operating direct flights between Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul using two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines. Originally set to expire on May 31, the lease was extended for three months at IndiGo's request, despite their proposal for a six-month extension being denied by the DGCA. The regulator clearly stated that no further extensions will be granted, marking this as the final opportunity.
Turkey's Stance in Support of Pakistan
Recently, Turkey openly supported Pakistan and criticized India's airstrikes on terrorist camps, heightening diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Consequently, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has revoked the security clearance for Turkey's company Celebi Airport Services. Furthermore, numerous travel agencies and online travel platforms have advised against travel to Turkey.
Adhering to Government Directives
According to news agencies PTI and Reuters, IndiGo had earlier defended this partnership as beneficial for passengers, but now CEO Pieter Elbers emphasizes their commitment to adhering to current regulations and government directives. It is noteworthy that last week, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu mentioned that the ministry is reviewing reports from IndiGo and security agencies, with the final decision to be based on these assessments.
