New Delhi: India’s largest airline IndiGo has reiterated that its partnership with Turkish Airlines and the operation of wide-body aircraft under a damp lease arrangement are fully compliant with all Indian laws and fall within the framework of the bilateral air services agreement between India and Turkey.

The clarification comes amid rising tensions between India and Turkey over Ankara’s vocal support for Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict and growing calls for boycotting Turkish entities following Operation Sindoor. Speculation has intensified after India revoked the security clearance of Celebi, a major Turkish ground handling firm operating at Indian airports, raising doubts over the future of the IndiGo-Turkish Airlines partnership.

Speaking on an investor call Wednesday, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said, “The flights between India and Turkey are conducted strictly under the bilateral agreement between the two nations and are in full compliance with all Indian rules and regulations.”

The current damp lease agreement—which allows IndiGo to operate Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft with Turkish crew—is set to expire this month. Renewal of the lease is now contingent on government approval. “On the renewal, that’s up to the government to decide. We operate within the framework and guidance laid out by them,” Elbers said.

Despite the controversy, demand for flights between India and Turkey remains strong, largely driven by Istanbul’s status as a global transit hub. IndiGo currently connects passengers from India to various international destinations via Istanbul through its codeshare with Turkish Airlines.

Elbers confirmed that IndiGo has contingency plans should the government decline the lease renewal. “We always ensure fallback options. We’ve demonstrated flexibility in both domestic and international operations,” he stated.

IndiGo has previously used its own Airbus A320neo and A321neo narrow-body aircraft for the India-Istanbul route during periods when the leased Boeing 777s were unavailable. For instance, during a brief gap in November, IndiGo continued operations with its narrow-body fleet while awaiting lease approvals.

The India-Turkey air services agreement permits 56 flights per week—28 in each direction—with no seat cap per flight, making wide-body aircraft an efficient option. This capacity advantage is a key reason why IndiGo shifted from using its narrow-body planes to leasing wide-body jets from Turkish Airlines for the high-demand route.

As geopolitical tensions influence aviation decisions, the future of this strategic partnership now hinges on the Indian government's stance in the broader political landscape.