IndiGo likely to get lease renewal permission for Turkish aircraft, but only for few months

An IndiGo airlines passenger aircraft taxis on the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai, India, May 29, 2023. REUTERS
| Photo Credit:
FRANCIS MASCARENHAS

To safeguard Indian passengers’ interests, the Centre is likely to grant airline major IndiGo permission to renew the damp-lease of Boeing 777 aircraft taken from Turkish Airlines for a bare minimum time period.

Industry insiders told businessline that the two leases that expire soon are likely to get a breather of only a few months.

IndiGo has applied to the Centre for permission to renew its damp leases of two Boeing 777 aircraft taken from Turkish Airlines.

At present, these aircraft with a seating capacity of over 500 are being operated on the Delhi-Istanbul and Mumbai-Istanbul routes.

“The permission to extend these leases will be granted only to protect the interest of Indian passengers. However, it has been made amply clear to the airline that further grants for lease extensions will not be given beyond these few months,” sources said.

Centre to review agreement

Meanwhile, the Centre is also set to review the bilateral air services agreement with Turkiye.

“The review is required as a fall in passenger numbers to Turkey has been observed. The low passenger count does not warrant a large allocation of seats on both sides,” sources said.

The codeshare comes under the framework of the Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India and Turkiye which allows for 56 flights per week between the two countries.

Currently, IndiGo offers codeshare seats to travellers to more than 40 points in Europe and the US through its partnership with Turkish Airlines.

Last week, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that the Centre will hold discussions with IndiGo on its codeshare and aircraft-leasing agreements with Turkish Airlines.

Recently, IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers said the airline is fully compliant with all applicable laws and that it works within the guardrails of the regulatory framework.

Sources had told businessline that IndiGo is preparing a contingency plan to mitigate any impact on operations if the damp-leased Boeing 777 aircraft are returned to the lessor, Turkish Airlines.

The possibility of returning these aircraft had grown after a massive public outcry called for the cancellation of India’s civil aviation links with Turkey.

Published on May 29, 2025

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