India Tightens Grip on Turkey-Linked Aviation: DGCA Grants IndiGo Final 3-Month Extension for Turkish Aircraft Lease Amid Diplomatic Tensions
New Delhi, May 30 — In a significant move reflecting India's growing discomfort with Turkish involvement in its aviation sector, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has denied IndiGo’s request to extend its damp lease agreement with Turkish Airlines beyond May 31, 2025. The regulator has, however, granted a final three-month extension—until August 31—to avoid immediate disruption of international operations.
The decision comes amid rising diplomatic tensions following Ankara’s open backing of Islamabad during recent India-Pakistan hostilities and Pakistan’s use of Turkish drones in cross-border operations. This final nod to IndiGo is widely seen as a strategic measure to phase out Turkish participation in Indian civil aviation without affecting passengers in the short term.
A Final Reprieve for IndiGo, But the Clock Is Ticking
IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, had leased two Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft from Turkish Airlines to operate high-demand routes between India and Turkey, including flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul. These aircraft were leased under a damp lease arrangement, where Turkish Airlines provided the aircraft, pilots, and maintenance, while IndiGo supplied the cabin crew.
Initially approved until May 31, 2025, IndiGo had sought a six-month extension. But the DGCA flatly refused, offering instead a three-month “last and final” extension up to August 31, 2025. The aviation regulator justified its decision by citing passenger convenience but made it clear that no further extensions will be entertained.
“IndiGo has been granted a one-time last and final extension of three months… based on the undertaking from the airline that they will terminate the damp lease with Turkish Airlines within this extension period,” a senior DGCA official told TheTrendingPeople.com.
Aviation Diplomacy: Turkey’s Growing Isolation in Indian Skies
This regulatory decision doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It comes close on the heels of India's cancellation of security clearance for Turkey-headquartered airport ground handling giant Çelebi Aviation, which operates at multiple Indian airports. The move was part of a larger recalibration of India’s strategic posture after Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military operation that exposed increased Pakistani aggression aided by Turkish equipment.
Turkey’s consistent diplomatic support for Pakistan and its growing military-technical cooperation with Islamabad, particularly in the form of drone supplies and ISR support, has not gone unnoticed in New Delhi. Within this geopolitical context, any commercial linkage with Turkish entities—especially those involving sensitive sectors like aviation—is coming under increased scrutiny.
Why IndiGo Chose Turkish Jets – and Why It Must Now Move On
IndiGo originally operated its Istanbul flights using narrow-body Airbus A321neo aircraft. However, the India-Turkey Air Services Agreement permits 56 weekly flights (28 each way) with no cap on seating capacity. To capitalize on this, IndiGo entered into a codeshare and damp lease arrangement with Turkish Airlines, allowing it to fly the high-capacity Boeing 777s and meet growing demand for long-haul international travel, especially to Europe via Istanbul.
But with the termination now set in motion, IndiGo faces two immediate choices:
- Revert to using its own narrow-body fleet with reduced capacity and longer turnaround times.
- Deploy alternative wide-body aircraft via fresh damp lease agreements from non-Turkish sources—a process IndiGo is reportedly already pursuing.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, in an investor call on May 21, acknowledged the potential end of the Turkish lease and said the airline had contingency plans in place.
“As a good airline, we make sure that we have fallback plans… We’ll deal with it, and adjust our network accordingly,” Elbers said.
IndiGo Defends Compliance Amid Growing National Backlash
Even as diplomatic winds shift, IndiGo has maintained that its arrangement with Turkish Airlines is fully legal and aligned with all regulatory norms.
“The flights between India and Turkey are governed by the bilateral air service agreement. Our operations are fully compliant with Indian laws and international agreements,” the airline reiterated in its official communication.
However, that has not prevented rising calls from nationalist quarters to boycott Turkish firms and re-evaluate their role in Indian infrastructure and aviation, especially given the sensitive nature of air connectivity and airport operations.
India’s Broader Pushback Against Turkish Influence
The clampdown on Turkish aviation links is part of a larger strategic reset. India’s decision to cancel Çelebi Aviation’s security clearance effectively disqualifies the company from continuing airport ground handling operations across India. This was seen as a soft-power retaliation to Turkey’s hardening alliance with Pakistan.
Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly used international forums to criticize India’s internal matters, including Jammu and Kashmir. In return, India is now quietly but firmly disengaging Turkish firms from sectors involving critical infrastructure, passenger data, and national security.
The Stakes: Beyond Aviation, It’s About Global Messaging
While at surface this may appear to be a business regulation matter, insiders view it as a calibrated geopolitical signal. By phasing out Turkish involvement in its skies, India is communicating a zero-tolerance stance on adversarial alliances—particularly when it comes to supporting Pakistan.
With Turkey positioning itself as a military and diplomatic backer of Islamabad, New Delhi is crafting a response that targets economic and operational linkages with Ankara, rather than indulging in overt diplomatic showdowns.
What Lies Ahead for IndiGo and Indian Aviation?
With the August 31 deadline in place, IndiGo has just under three months to reconfigure its fleet for the India-Turkey routes. The airline is reportedly scouting for non-Turkish wide-body aircraft and may even fast-track its own wide-body acquisitions or look at other leasing opportunities from neutral countries.
Meanwhile, the India-Turkey air service agreement remains unchanged on paper, but its practical implementation is rapidly transforming in light of political realities.
Conclusion: A New Flight Path for India's Strategic Autonomy
The DGCA’s move to restrict IndiGo’s Turkish lease marks a turning point in India’s aviation diplomacy. What was once a purely commercial decision is now layered with strategic depth. As India distances itself from Turkish influence, airlines and private sector players will need to recalibrate their international partnerships with national security and foreign policy in mind.
For IndiGo, the message is clear: the skies may be open, but the rules of engagement have changed.
Disclaimer: inputs with Agency