New Delhi: India’s civil aviation ministry will consult with security agencies regarding IndiGo’s codeshare and aircraft leasing arrangements with Turkish Airlines, Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu confirmed on Friday.
The review follows increasing public discontent in India over Turkey’s vocal support for Pakistan in the wake of a recent militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, where tourists were targeted by Islamist gunmen.
“We are taking input from IndiGo on that and also with the necessary security agencies, and we’d like to see how to proceed with that,” said Minister Naidu, speaking to reporters during an event in New Delhi.
Neither IndiGo nor Turkish Airlines responded immediately to media requests for comment.
IndiGo has previously defended the partnership, emphasizing that the collaboration provides substantial benefits to Indian travelers, promotes aviation growth, supports employment, and has expanded IndiGo’s reach into long-haul markets across Europe and the United States.
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The codeshare agreement between IndiGo and Turkish Airlines began in 2018, enabling IndiGo passengers to access multiple international destinations via Istanbul. In 2023, the partnership deepened through a leasing arrangement under which Turkish Airlines, backed by the Turkish state, provided two aircraft along with pilots and select crew to IndiGo for operations between India and Turkey.
However, these agreements have increasingly come under scrutiny. Industry sources say that rival carrier Air India has petitioned government authorities to terminate the leasing pact, citing both commercial disadvantage and security concerns stemming from Turkey’s political alignment with Pakistan.
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Earlier this month, India revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground-handling firm Celebi, citing national security risks. The Indian division of the company has since initiated legal proceedings against the decision.
Beyond aviation, Turkish goods have faced informal boycotts across India. Local grocery stores and large e-commerce platforms have begun removing Turkish-origin items such as chocolates, coffee, jams, cosmetics, and apparel from their inventories. The move comes in response to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s public show of support for Pakistan following India’s military retaliation for the Kashmir attack.
