Amid growing worries over Turkey’s recent political stance supporting Pakistan, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Friday that IndiGo will end its leasing deal with Turkish Airlines by August 31. In order to prevent a disruption in passenger services, the airline was given a final three-month extension, which led to the decision.
For direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul, IndiGo currently employs two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft that it leases from Turkish Airlines. Originally, May 31 was the lease’s expiration date. The extension was granted “based on the undertaking from the airline that they will terminate the damp lease… and shall not seek any further extension,” according to a statement from the aviation regulator, which also stated that it was “one-time, last, and final.”
The regulator rejected IndiGo’s request for a six-month extension, citing operational planning and passenger convenience.
The action comes after Turkey strained diplomatic relations by publicly endorsing Pakistan and denouncing India’s airstrikes on terror facilities earlier this month. In the interest of national security, the Turkish company Celebi Airport Services’ security clearance was revoked by the aviation security body BCAS as part of the backlash. Since then, web resources and travel associations have warned against going to Turkey.
“We are compliant today and we will continue to comply with any government regulations,” CEO Pieter Elbers stated on Friday, despite IndiGo’s previous defence of its alliance with Turkish Airlines, which highlighted its advantages for Indian customers as well as its contributions to aviation jobs and connectivity. K Rammohan Naidu, the minister of civil aviation, stated last week that the ministry was considering IndiGo’s and security agencies’ comments before reaching a final judgement.
