IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has confirmed that the airline is fully compliant with all regulatory frameworks regarding its operations using aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines. However, he added that the decision to renew these leases lies with the Indian government.

Elbers emphasized that IndiGo’s operations to Istanbul are in line with the Air Service Agreement (ASA) between India and Turkey, with thousands of Indian customers booked mostly for destinations beyond Istanbul. The airline uses two Boeing 777 aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines for direct flights to Istanbul and offers codeshare connections to Europe and the US.

The current lease agreements for the Boeing 777s expire on May 31, and Elbers noted that the Indian government will make the final decision on whether to renew them.

This statement comes after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the security clearance for Turkish company Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd on May 15 due to national security concerns, amid rising tensions between India and Turkey over Turkey’s ties with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, IndiGo reported a record profit of Rs 3,067.5 crore for the January-March quarter, a 62% increase from the same period last year. The airline also announced plans to launch direct long-haul flights from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam starting in July.