Air India Wants Government to Cancel IndiGo and Turkish Airlines Deal

Air India has asked the Indian government to stop a deal between IndiGo and Turkish Airlines, saying it could be a risk to national security and is hurting Indian airlines.

Since 2023, IndiGo has been running flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul using planes and staff from Turkish Airlines. This setup has increased the number of flights to Turkey, helping Turkish tourism and giving Turkish Airlines more business. Air India says this is not good for Indian airlines, as it gives an unfair advantage to a foreign airline.

Air India is also unhappy with the codeshare agreement between IndiGo and Turkish Airlines, which started in 2018. This agreement allows passengers to book tickets with either airline for connecting flights. Air India believes this deal makes Turkish Airlines stronger in the international market while weakening Indian airlines.

Recently, the Indian government cancelled the security approval of a Turkish ground-handling company called Celebi, also due to security concerns. This shows that the government is already being cautious about partnerships with Turkish firms.

On the other hand, IndiGo says the partnership helps Indian travelers get better global connectivity, creates jobs in India, and helps them expand to Europe and the U.S. They say such international deals are important for growth and affordable travel.

The current agreement between IndiGo and Turkish Airlines ends on May 31, and IndiGo has asked to renew it. Meanwhile, Air India continues to ask the government not to allow it again. The final decision will have to balance both national security and business interests.