Air India lobbies to get lease of Indigo with Turkish Airlines cancelled
Air India has reportedly lobbied the
Indian government to block rival IndiGo’s leasing agreement with Turkish
Airlines, citing both commercial and national security concerns, according to a
source and documents reviewed by Reuters.
The request comes as public backlash
intensifies in India over Turkey's vocal support for Pakistan amid the ongoing
India-Pakistan conflict. The growing tensions have led to a spike in
cancellations of Indian tourist bookings to Turkey. On May 16, the Indian
government revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground-handling firm
Celebi, citing national security risks.
Since 2023, IndiGo has operated two
aircraft leased from state-run Turkish Airlines, complete with pilots and
partial crew, on routes from New Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul. These wet
leases—approved by India’s Civil Aviation Ministry and renewed every six
months—have allowed IndiGo to increase capacity on these key international
routes.
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cancels security clearance of Turkish firm amid tensions over Turkiye’s support
to Pakistan
Air India has now asked the ministry
to discontinue further extensions of this arrangement. In a formal
communication submitted to government departments, the airline argued that the
deal disproportionately benefits Turkey while undermining India's own aviation
interests. The leasing agreement, according to the document, has “substantially
increased seat capacity” to Turkey, aiding its tourism industry at a time of
strained diplomatic relations.
While Air India declined to directly
address the allegations, it pushed back against what it called misleading media
reports. “Air India denies the gross misrepresentation and mischievous
reporting on a competitor’s business model in certain media outlets. As a
responsible corporate, we do not comment on competitors,” the airline said in a
statement.
IndiGo, for its part, defended the
partnership. In a statement, the airline noted that the deal, which also
includes a codeshare agreement, brings "multiple benefits to Indian travellers,”
creates jobs, and has helped IndiGo expand into long-haul markets in Europe and
the U.S.
Government policy permits wet
leasing of foreign aircraft under "emergent" or
"unforeseen" circumstances, subject to periodic review and approval.
IndiGo's current lease extension expires on May 31, and the airline has applied
for another renewal, according to a source familiar with the matter.
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restores flight operations after ceasefire agreement with India
Both IndiGo and Air India, like
other global carriers, have faced aircraft delivery delays due to ongoing
supply chain issues affecting Boeing and Airbus.
In recent discussions with Indian
officials, Air India has reportedly raised national security concerns, citing
Turkey's public support for Pakistan during recent cross-border tensions.
Following India's airstrikes in retaliation for a militant attack in Kashmir,
Ankara praised Islamabad’s “calm and restrained policies,” further fueling
diplomatic friction.
The outcome of the government's
review could have implications not only for the aviation sector but also for
broader India-Turkey relations in a volatile geopolitical climate.
Source: Business Today