Turkey’s Aviation Sector Impacted by India-Pakistan Tensions

Turkey’s Aviation Sector Impacted by India-Pakistan Tensions

Escalating Diplomatic Strains Affect Turkish Aviation Interests

Turkish companies operating within India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector are encountering significant challenges amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The deterioration in relations follows Turkey’s perceived support for Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, prompting regulatory and commercial repercussions that cast doubt on the future of Turkish aviation enterprises in India.

Regulatory Actions and Commercial Pressures

A pivotal development occurred on May 15, 2025, when the Indian government revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India, the local subsidiary of the Turkish firm Celebi. Citing national security concerns, authorities mandated the cessation of Celebi’s ground handling operations at nine major Indian airports, including Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Chennai. Employing over 3,000 people, Celebi has contested the decision in the Delhi High Court, asserting that it is being unfairly targeted. The company emphasizes that its Indian operations are majority-owned by local shareholders and underscores its commitment to Indian interests.

The diplomatic rift has also strained airline partnerships. Air India has reportedly urged IndiGo, India’s largest low-cost carrier, to terminate its extensive codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines. This partnership has allowed IndiGo to operate flights to Istanbul—its sole European destination—and to lease two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines for services originating from Delhi and Mumbai. Under government pressure, IndiGo has been instructed to end the lease of these Turkish aircraft by August, further complicating relations between the two carriers.

Turkish Technic, the maintenance, repair, and overhaul division of Turkish Airlines, is similarly affected. It currently services the Boeing 777s leased to IndiGo, and the termination of these leases is expected to diminish Turkish Technic’s presence in India’s aviation maintenance sector.

Broader Economic and Strategic Consequences

These aviation sector developments are part of a broader Indian initiative to reassess and, in some cases, curtail economic, academic, and tourism ties with Turkey in response to Ankara’s position during the India-Pakistan conflict. Given the strategic importance of aviation, the sector is particularly vulnerable, but the repercussions indicate a wider cooling of bilateral relations.

As diplomatic tensions continue, the outlook for Turkish aviation firms in India remains uncertain. Regulatory measures and commercial pressures threaten their sustained operations in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.