IndiGo Leaves Lease Renewal Decision With Government Amid Turkey Tensions

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has confirmed that the airline remains fully compliant with all regulatory requirements regarding its operations with aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines.

During a media interaction on IndiGo’s financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of FY 2024-25, Elbers emphasised that the decision to renew these leases rests with the Indian government.

“It is important to recognise that the operation to Istanbul is taking place in the context of the Air Service Agreement (ASA) between India and Turkey,” Elbers stated. “We are fully compliant with all regulatory frameworks. We have thousands of Indian customers booked, mostly for travel beyond Istanbul.”

Leased Boeing 777s Operate On Istanbul Route

IndiGo currently operates direct flights to Istanbul using two Boeing 777 aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines.

Through its codeshare agreement with the Turkish carrier, IndiGo also offers onward connectivity to destinations in Europe and the United States.

The current lease agreements for the aircraft are set to expire on May 31.

Elbers’ comments come shortly after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked security clearance for Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, a Turkish ground-handling company, on May 15.

The decision reportedly stems from national security concerns amid rising diplomatic tensions between India and Turkey, particularly over Turkey’s close military and diplomatic ties with Pakistan.

Record-Breaking Financial Performance In Q4 FY25

Despite the geopolitical uncertainty, IndiGo reported a record profit after tax of ₹3,067.5 crore for the January–March quarter, marking a 62% increase from ₹1,894.8 crore in the same period last year.

“Driven by strong demand for air travel and effective strategy execution, IndiGo reported a healthy net profit of ₹72,584 million for the financial year ended March 2025,” the airline said. “Excluding foreign exchange impacts, net profit rose to ₹88,676 million, reflecting continued strong performance.”

For the fourth quarter alone, IndiGo recorded a net profit of ₹30,675 million—the highest Q4 profit in the company’s history.

IndiGo Announces Long-Haul International Expansion

In a significant strategic move, IndiGo also announced the launch of direct long-haul flights from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam, starting in July 2025.

This marks the airline’s debut in long-haul international operations and signals its ambitions for global expansion.

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