In the wake of Operation Sindoor, Indian sentiment toward Turkey has shifted dramatically. The Indian Armed Forces’ retaliatory action in Pakistan, prompted by the Pahalgam terror attack, triggered calls for a boycott of nations seen as supporting Pakistan—Turkey being one of them. Online campaigns urging Indians to avoid Turkey gained traction, leading to advisories and even halted bookings by some travel agencies.
This digital backlash had measurable effects. In June 2025, only 24,250 Indian tourists visited Turkey, marking a 36% drop from the previous year. The decline began as early as May and contributed to a 15% year-on-year drop in Indian arrivals for the first half of 2025. While Indians make up just 0.6% of Turkey’s total foreign arrivals, the market had been on an upward trajectory—until now.
IndiGo, which had boosted traffic with direct flights to Turkey since 2018, may now sever ties with Turkish Airlines. Already, maintenance contracts are being reconsidered, with Lufthansa Technik stepping in. Ground handling contracts with Turkish firms like Celebi have been suspended.
As diplomatic tensions rise, Turkey may continue to see a fall in Indian tourism and aviation partnerships, signaling deeper geopolitical fractures.
