Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel has demanded IndiGo to terminate its wet leasing of Turkish Airlines aircraft, considering national security. He has urged the civil aviation minister to take appropriate action immediately
-1748004461510_d.png "Shiv Sena MLA writes to aviation ministry, demands IndiGo to terminate its wet leasing of Turkish Airlines aircraft")
Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel has demanded IndiGo to terminate its wet leasing of Turkish Airlines aircraft. Representational image/File
Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel has demanded IndiGo to terminate its wet leasing of Turkish Airlines aircraft, considering national security, reported the PTI.
Patel has urged the civil aviation ministry to take appropriate action immediately.
According to the PTI, on May 15, aviation regulator BCAS revoked the security clearance of Turkish firm Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd citing ‘national security’ concerns, shortly after Turkey extended support for Pakistan and criticised India's anti-terror strikes. In response, some travel portals and associations have issued advisories urging people to avoid visiting Turkey.
Patel has also stepped forward and written a letter to the civil aviation ministry, expressing deep concern and strong objections to IndiGo using plans wet leased from Turkish Airlines for flights between Turkey and India.
He said, “The arrangement, in the current geopolitical context, is alarming and unacceptable. The Turkish government has openly expressed diplomatic and political support for Pakistan, especially during recent hostile exchanges between India and Pakistan continuing to allow Turkish nationals and Turkish-registered aircraft to operate within Indian airspace and at Indian airports directly contradicts the spirit of national security and sovereignty.”
Wet lease of an aircraft by an Indian company includes leasing of foreign aircraft, along with crew, maintenance, and insurance.The aircraft remains under the operational control of the foreign lessor and is subject to the regulations of the relevant foreign civil aviation authority. On Wednesday, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers stated that the airline fully adheres to all regulatory frameworks governing the operation of flights using aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines, adding that the decision on lease renewals rests with the government.
The MLA has further urged the ministry to review and impose restrictions on foreign wet lease operations involving countries that maintain diplomatically hostile relations with India. He added, “No such arrangements should be allowed where foreign crews or foreign-flagged aircraft operate regularly on Indian routes.”
IndiGo is operating direct flights to Istanbul with two leased Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines having over 500 seats each. It also offers codeshare seats to more than 40 points in Europe and the US through the codeshare partnership with the Turkish carrier.
(With inputs from PTI)
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