IndiGo Defends Turkish Airlines Partnership Amid Nationwide Boycott Calls, Says Deal Benefits Indian Economy
Mumbai: While multiple companies are calling off their business ties with Turkish companies and particularly Turkish Airlines, IndiGo continues their codeshare partnership with Turkey's flag carrier. In a detailed reply to The Free Press Journal, the Indian airline defended its partnership calling it beneficial for Indians.
Indians have collectively made a boycott call against Turkey and Azerbaijan as both the countries expressed solidarity with Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor to avenge the killing of 26 tourists in a terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Indians have been religiously pursuing this boycott call which resulted in proactive cancellation of holidays in Turkey and the civil aviation ministry revoking security clearance of Turkish ground service company Celebi Aviation.
While multiple Indian companies have called off their partnerships and terminated business associations with Turkish companies, the pressure has also been built on IndiGo, India’s largest airline according to market share, to end its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines, which is the flag carrier of Turkey. On May 8, the Shiv Sena also urged IndiGo to end its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines.
In a codeshare partnership, one carrier markets and the other operates as a result of an agreement between two carriers to sell seats on each other’s flights with the aim to offer its customers a large variety of destinations to choose. The flight ticket would be booked on the flight number of the carrier that you have selected to travel with, however, it may be operated by another airline.
However, IndiGo seems to have no plans to break its ties with Turkish Airlines even after Turkish companies like Celebi have seen serious consequences due to the boycott call. Answering the questions asked to IndiGo by The Free Press Journal, the airline defended its partnership with the Turkish carrier claiming that international travel has become more accessible and affordable through the codeshare agreement.
IndiGo said that the ongoing air traffic between India and Turkey needs to be viewed in the context of the air services agreement (ASA) between the two countries and the overall construct of international air services to and from India. Notably, the ASA between India and Turkey ASA allows carriers of Turkey and India to operate a total of 56 flights per week between India and Turkey. This includes 14 flights from India to Turkey and 14 flights from Turkey to India each by Indian carriers and the same number by airlines of Turkey.
In its statement, the Indian airline said that it currently operates direct flights to Istanbul via leased 500+ seater aircraft and offers codeshare seats to travellers to more than 40 points in Europe and USA supported by its domestic network. “The arrangement provides benefits to Indian travellers and the country’s economy. The additional capacity has enabled availability of seats for Indian passengers at reasonable airfares,” IndiGo said, adding that it facilitates trade worth billions of USD between the two countries.
IndiGo said that prior to the commencement of IndiGo’s operations to Turkey, Turkish Airlines was the sole carrier on this route, deriving the entire benefits of direct air connectivity between India and Turkey. It added that the codeshare has enabled it to build its presence in the long-haul markets in Europe and the USA, allowing the airline to lay a foundation for self-sufficient long-haul foray with the 40 A321XLR and 30 A350 aircraft ordered by the airline.
“This arrangement not only enhances the connectivity of Indian hubs like Delhi and Mumbai, but the additional revenue has also led to increased tax contributions to the Indian exchequer, supporting economic growth. Continuous reinvestment of its resources in expanding its international routes, IndiGo is fuelling the aviation sector's development and creating jobs, both direct and indirect, across our nation. This expansion is a win-win for customers, airlines, and the broader Indian economy,” said IndiGo.
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