Pakistan airspace closure: IndiGo gets 6 months' extension for Turkish wide-body aircraft

NEW DELHI: The aviation ministry has allowed IndiGo to continue using the two wide-body Boeing 777s it has wet leased (hired with crew) from Turkish Airlines for six months starting next Monday (Sept 1). Now, instead of returning those planes to Turkish by Aug 31, as directed by the government following Turkey’s support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, IndiGo can use them till February 28, 2026.

“IndiGo had approached the aviation ministry for an extension on the grounds that due to the continued closure of Pakistan airspace, its narrow-body Airbus A321 did not have the range to fly between Delhi & Istanbul as the alternate route is much longer. The only option in the event of non extension of wet lease would have been to cancel IndiGo’s Istanbul flights, in which case Turkish Airlines would have been the only one operate on this route. Hence a six-month extension was given due to the geopolitical situation,” say sources.


An IndiGo spokesperson said: “We acknowledge the acceptance of IndiGo’s request for extension to its wet lease arrangement with Turkish Airlines, subject to conditions laid down by the regulator. This approval comes at a crucial time and will help mitigate losses to the Indian aviation due to geopolitical restrictions, and greatly benefitting Indian travellers during the peak travel season by ensuring a seamless, direct connection to Istanbul and points beyond. Given the current geopolitical challenges, this extension provides much-needed continuity and stability in operations, allowing us to better serve the growing demand for international travel.”

India had this May acted against Turkey, following the support given to Pakistan by it during Operation Sindoor. First, the security clearance to Turkish ground handler Celebi “and its associated companies” was withdrawn due to which it was removed from nine airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. Then on May 30, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had given IndiGo a “one time last and final three-month extension” for the two Turkish B777s. The airline was allowed to use them till Aug 31, instead of Nov 30, 2025, as it had applied for.

IndiGo has been using the two Turkish wide body planes to operate a daily between Delhi & Istanbul and Mumbai & Istanbul since early 2023. Turkish Airlines has the same two daily routes, with no more room for any more flights between the two countries under current bilaterals that Turkey has unsuccessfully tried with the Modi govt to be revised upwards for some years now.

Since 2018, Indigo has had a code share with Turkish. A significant number of passengers on Turkish and IndiGo flights fly between India and rest of the world via Istanbul on Turkish network. “Canceling of flights and then not being able to operate would have inconvenienced thousands of passengers booked to travel between India and the rest of the world via Turkey. Hence this extension was sought and given,” say sources.

The IndiGo spokesperson added: "We are thankful to the authorities for accepting our request for extension. As always, we continue to be fully compliant with the relevant regulations and conditions of extension laid down by the authorities."