Govt takes a U-turn on links with Turkish aviation sector

New Delhi: About three months after vowing to cut civil aviation ties with Turkey, the government has started approving aircraft leasing pacts between Indian and Turkish airlines, signalling a softening of its stance.

India's largest carrier IndiGo secured Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approval to extend a leasing agreement for two Boeing 777 aircraft with Turkish Airlines by six months. It marks a shift from the civil aviation regulator's earlier directive to IndiGo to terminate the leasing deal with Turkish Airlines by August 31.

DGCA has also approved budget airline SpiceJet's plan to lease five Boeing 737 planes from a subsidiary of Turkish carrier Corendon Airlines. The Malta-based subsidiary, while having a separate licence, is wholly owned by the Turkish carrier.

IndiGo had first sought a six-month extension of its lease but was only granted a "one-time last and final extension" of three months till August-end.

The Modi government's toughening of its stand against ties with Turkey followed Operation Sindoor, during which it was discovered that many of the drones fired into India by Pakistan were of Turkish make.In both the leasing deals, the lessor will provide the Indian carriers with crew and maintenance support.

Government officials said the approvals were given to safeguard the interest of homegrown airlines as they are already hamstrung by the airspace curbs by Pakistan since April.

"IndiGo said that due to the airspace closure, they will be unable to operate to Istanbul with the Airbus 320 or 321 jets which have range limitations. That would have rendered the India-Turkey route to be completely dominated by Turkish carriers which the government didn't want," said one of the officials cited above. "Similarly, in the case of SpiceJet, the airline would have been forced to suspend routes if the permission to lease wasn't given which would have led to increase in ticket prices."

IndiGo said the approval provides continuity and stability in operations.

"We are thankful to the authorities for accepting our request for extension. As always, we continue to be fully compliant with the relevant regulations and conditions of extension laid down by the authorities," the airline said.

A second government official said officially, India has never taken a position to block business from Turkey.

Senior aviation industry executives, while lauding the government's decision of upholding the commercial interest of local carriers, said the unfolding episode shows that policy decisions should be led by hard commercial and national interest rather than clamour on social media.

"There was no official word from the government but the move to oust Celebi was taken after the clamour on social media. It's good that the government has realised that it is futile to pursue such steps," he said.

In May, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the clearance of Turkish ground handling firm Celebi, forcing it to cease operations at nine airports across India. The government had cited national security concerns despite Celebi arguing that it was privately owned and not an organisation controlled by the Turkish government, with global blue-chip investors holding a 65 % stake.

Since then, major airport operators like Adani Group and GMR have started preparations to enter into aircraft ground-handling services. Employees of Celebi have been reassigned to other ground-handling companies in order to maintain airport operations.

The government will have to work through intricacies of geopolitical relations while prioritising interest in Indian business, said Kabir Taneja, deputy director, strategic studies at Observer Research Foundation.