IndiGo Airlines, India’s largest carrier, has reaffirmed its commitment to its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines, even as calls intensify to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan over their political stance supporting Pakistan.
In a statement released on May 15, IndiGo emphasized the strategic and economic advantages of this alliance, especially for Indian aviation hubs like Delhi and Mumbai. “This partnership not only improves international connectivity but also boosts revenues, increases tax contributions, and supports broader economic development,” the airline said.
IndiGo operates direct flights to Istanbul using leased wide-body aircraft and offers codeshare options for over 40 destinations in Europe and the US through Turkish Airlines. It stressed that the partnership provides affordable, efficient travel alternatives for Indian passengers, especially from smaller cities through cost-effective two-stop itineraries.
The airline also highlighted that the collaboration supports two actively deployed aircraft, sustains trade activity worth billions of dollars, and fosters both direct and indirect employment opportunities in India.
📊 Air Services Agreement Overview:
Under the current India-Turkey Air Services Agreement (ASA), both nations’ carriers are allowed to operate:
- 14 weekly flights each between India and Turkey per carrier.
- IndiGo operates daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul, while Turkish Airlines flies daily between Istanbul and Delhi/Mumbai, and once weekly to Chennai.
🚨 Boycott Calls & Political Backdrop:
Political backlash erupted after Turkey and Azerbaijan publicly supported Pakistan following India’s Operation Sindoor, a military strike targeting terrorist camps. On May 8, Shiv Sena called for a boycott of both nations, urging IndiGo to cut ties with Turkish Airlines.
Demonstrations by Shiv Sena members were also staged at Mumbai Airport, demanding the cancellation of a Turkish company’s airport ground services contract.
Despite the controversy, IndiGo has no plans to reduce or suspend its Turkey operations or its Baku flights to Azerbaijan. The airline emphasized it remains committed to serving passengers while contributing to the economy.
✈️ Tourism & Market Insights:
- India–Turkey flights: Around 13,000 seats weekly (one-way)
- India–Azerbaijan flights: Over 3,000 seats weekly (one-way)
- Indian tourists to Turkey: 330,000 in 2024 (up from 119,503 in 2014)
- Indian tourists to Azerbaijan: 243,589 in 2024 (up from 4,853 in 2014)
IndiGo is the only airline currently flying between Delhi and Baku, and no cancellations have occurred recently, according to Flightradar24.
IndiGo concludes that the codeshare agreement has democratized international travel for Indian passengers while supporting the nation’s aviation infrastructure and global trade connectivity.
