In a clear signal to Turkey following its support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has directed IndiGo to terminate its aircraft lease agreement with Turkish Airlines within three months. The move comes shortly after New Delhi revoked security clearance for Turkish ground-handling company Celebi Aviation, which operated at nine major airports in India, including Delhi.
IndiGo currently operates two Boeing 777 aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines. The lease permit expired on May 31, and the airline had requested a six-month extension from the Civil Aviation Ministry. However, the ministry denied the full extension, allowing only a limited grace period.
“To avoid passenger inconvenience due to immediate flight disruption,” a ministry statement said, “IndiGo has been granted a one-time, last and final extension of three months up to August 31, 2025.” The ministry clarified that no further extensions would be granted.
The leased aircraft operate under a “damp lease” model, where the aircraft is provided along with some support services, excluding the flight crew. IndiGo also maintains a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines, allowing passengers to book joint flights across both airlines’ networks.
Speaking to NDTV last week, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers emphasized the airline’s compliance with all Indian aviation regulations. “We operate within the guidance of service agreements and government rules. If those rules change, we will adjust accordingly,” Elbers said.
He also highlighted that only two of IndiGo’s fleet of over 400 aircraft are leased from Turkish Airlines. “Our main focus remains on fulfilling our commitments to customers who have booked flights with us,” he added.