Turkey’s business interests in India’s rapidly growing aviation sector have taken a major hit following recent armed tensions between India and Pakistan. Turkey’s stance, which New Delhi interpreted as pro-Pakistani, has led to a series of retaliatory measures targeting Turkish companies operating in India.
One major casualty is Celebi Airport Services India, a subsidiary of Turkey’s Çelebi, which had its security clearance revoked by the Indian government on 15 May 2025. This decision forces the company to suspend operations at nine major airports across the country, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Kochi, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Chennai.
Indian authorities cited national security concerns as the reason for the decision. Celebi India, which employs over 3,000 workers, has since filed an appeal with the Delhi High Court, claiming the decision is arbitrary and unjust, emphasising that despite its Turkish ties, the majority of its shareholders are Indian investors and that it operates fully within Indian law.
Air India pressures IndiGo to cut ties with Turkish Airlines
According to exclusive information from Reuters, Air India is reportedly pressuring IndiGo to terminate its strategic partnership with Turkish Airlines. The partnership includes a codeshare agreement on dozens of routes, with Turkish Airlines serving as IndiGo’s main European hub in Istanbul- the only European city directly served by the Indian airline and the westernmost point of its network.
Additionally, IndiGo leases two Boeing 777s from Turkish Airlines for its flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul, with maintenance handled by Turkish Technic, the airline’s MRO unit.
University partnerships suspended
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay announced on Saturday that it is suspending its agreements with Turkish universities due to Turkey’s support for Pakistan.
“Due to the current geopolitical situation involving Turkey, IIT Bombay is suspending its agreements with Turkish universities until further notice,” the top Indian technology institute announced on its X account.
This move follows similar announcements from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.
Indian celebrities join the boycott
Indian TV actress Rupali Ganguly became the first major Indian celebrity to publicly call for a boycott against Turkey, urging fellow actors, influencers, and travellers to cancel their bookings to Turkey in protest of Turkey’s support for Pakistan after India’s Operation Sindoor.
Her post on social media sparked widespread discussions, with many supporting her call. This was followed by actor Kushal Tandon’s family, with his mother cancelling her trip to Turkey despite non-refundable reservations.
Growing distance between India and Turkey
These developments are part of a broader movement in India to distance itself from Turkey, aiming to limit economic, academic, and tourism ties between the two countries due to Ankara’s pro-Pakistani stance.
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