India’s largest carrier IndiGo said on Thursday it has received approval to continue leasing two wide-body aircraft from Turkish Airlines for another six months, in a reversal of New Delhi’s earlier order to end the arrangement by August 31.
The extension, which now runs until February 28, follows a request from the airline and is subject to conditions set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
IndiGo said the decision will help offset losses linked to longer flight paths and higher operating costs after Pakistan imposed an airspace ban on Indian carriers earlier this year.
The lease agreement, which began in 2023, covers two Boeing 777 aircraft with pilots and some crew provided by Turkish Airlines. The planes are deployed on the Delhi–Istanbul and Mumbai–Istanbul routes, enabling IndiGo to carry more passengers than with its narrow-body fleet.
The arrangement has drawn criticism with rival Air India lobbying the government to end the partnership. Tensions also rose after Turkey expressed support for Pakistan in its recent dispute with India.
In May, the DGCA had only allowed IndiGo a three-month extension, rejecting its request for six months. The latest approval comes as a relief for the airline, which recently reported weaker first-quarter revenue growth amid softer demand caused by border tensions and a fatal Air India crash