DGCA Grants Final 3-Month Extension to IndiGo for Turkish Airlines Lease Amid Geopolitical Tensions
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has granted a final three-month extension to IndiGo for operating two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines. The extension runs until August 31, 2025, and comes with a clear condition: this will be the last.
In a statement on Friday, the DGCA said the move was made to avoid disruption for passengers but emphasized that IndiGo must terminate the lease within this period and not request another extension. “This is a one-time, last and final extension,” the DGCA stated.
IndiGo had originally requested a six-month extension, which the regulator denied.
The decision comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over India’s business ties with Turkey. Tensions between the two countries have risen following Ankara’s vocal support for Pakistan during past military flare-ups with India. Just weeks ago, the Indian government revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground handling firm Celebi, citing national security concerns.
IndiGo has been using the Turkish-leased aircraft to operate direct flights to Istanbul, offering further connections to Europe and the US through a codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines.
Speaking ahead of the IATA annual summit in Delhi — the first time in 42 years the global airline event is being held in India — IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers addressed the issue. “Our flights to Türkiye operate under the bilateral air service agreement. We’re fully compliant with government regulations and will continue to be,” he said.
Looking ahead, IndiGo is planning to expand its international footprint in a big way. The airline will launch flights to eight new international destinations this financial year, including four in Central Asia. However, tensions with Pakistan have already impacted operations — IndiGo had to suspend its routes to Tashkent and Almaty after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers in April.
While the airline has yet to announce which Indian cities will serve these new routes, Elbers said IndiGo is actively working on route planning, taking into account airspace restrictions. “India’s geographic size gives us flexibility. But we need to prepare for different scenarios. Circumventing Pakistani airspace does impact our operations, especially for long-haul routes,” he explained.
IndiGo’s much-anticipated entry into long-haul flying begins in July with direct routes from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam, using leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The additional new destinations will include London, Athens, Copenhagen, and Siem Reap, taking the airline’s international network to 50 cities by the end of the fiscal year.
As the host airline for the IATA summit, IndiGo continues to strengthen its leadership position. With a fleet of over 430 aircraft, the airline currently operates 2,300 daily flights across 90 domestic and 40 international destinations.
Elbers added that IndiGo is on track to cross 600 aircraft in its fleet by 2030, with plans to induct one new aircraft every week during the 2025-26 financial year.
