The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has allowed budget carrier IndiGo a three-month extension for operating two Boeing 777 aircraft that the airline had taken on wet lease from Turkish Airlines, said industry sources on Friday.
The Indian carrier had sought an extension of six months.
Under the wet lease terms, the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance are all provided by the lessor — Turkish Airlines. The lessee — IndiGo — on the other hand, sells tickets and markets the service.
The DGCA’s approval has come amid escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Turkey. This follows the latter’s diplomatic and military support to Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 and Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The “wet lease” arrangement between the two airlines began in 2023.
It allowed IndiGo to start flights to Istanbul, which is outside the range of a normal narrowbody plane like A320. For IndiGo, this comes without it immediately investing in widebody aircraft.
Of the around 430 planes in IndiGo’s fleet, only three are widebody — two leased from Turkish Airlines and one from Norse Atlantic Airways. The remaining are narrowbody aircraft.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, IndiGo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pieter Elbers defended the airline’s partnership with Turkish Airlines. He said it functions within established international norms and government policies.
“The relationship between countries in the aviation sector is governed by what are known as Air Services Agreements. These define the number of flights that can be operated between nations,” Elbers said.
He added that the airline operates in full compliance with the regulatory framework in place. “If there are any changes in the framework, we will naturally adjust our operations to stay aligned,” he said.
Elbers also emphasised that the leased aircraft are serving a clear passenger need, with the vast majority of travellers on these flights being Indian nationals.
“People have made travel plans and bookings. Our priority is to ensure that we continue to serve them. At the same time, we remain alert and responsive to any changes in the regulatory or geopolitical landscape,” he said.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), on May 15, revoked the security clearance of Istanbul-based Çelebi Aviation Holding, citing national security concerns.
Çelebi, which provided ground handling services at major Indian airports, challenged the decision in court.
The Bombay High Court has since issued a temporary injunction preventing Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) from finalising bids to replace Çelebi, pending further review.
