Turkey was among the first to back Pakistan.
India has severed links with businesses and universities in Turkey following Ankara’s support for Pakistan during recent hostilities.
On May 15, the Indian government barred Turkish firm Celebi from operating at its airports, citing national security concerns, an accusation the company strongly denies.
Celebi provided ground-handling services at key airports, including Delhi and Mumbai. It has now been formally removed, following orders from the federal aviation ministry.
India’s minister of state for aviation said on X: “Recognising the seriousness of the issue and the call to protect national interests, we have taken cognisance of these requests.
“The Ministry of Civil Aviation has revoked the security clearance of the said company.”
The decision comes after growing public and political pressure. According to the minister, the government received requests from across the country to ban the Turkish company.
Celebi has pushed back against the move.
It is reported that the company will seek all “administrative and legal” remedies. It described the decision as “unjust”.
Bloomberg quoted the firm as saying: “Our company and subsidiaries bear no responsibility for any potential disruptions, delays or negative impacts on airport operations and civil aviation traffic in India.”
The diplomatic rift follows deadly clashes between India and Pakistan.
Delhi launched airstrikes after blaming Islamabad for the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan has denied involvement.
Turkey was among the first to back Pakistan. Ankara warned of an “all-out war” while Azerbaijan condemned India’s military response.
The reaction in India was swift. Calls for boycotts of Turkey and Azerbaijan surged on social media.
Senior politicians joined the backlash.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a former federal minister and a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said:
“Every hardworking Indian who travels abroad as a tourist understands today that their hard-earned rupee should not be spent on those who help the enemies of our country.”
Travel to both countries has already declined sharply.
MakeMyTrip, a leading Indian travel site, said: “Indian travellers have expressed strong sentiments over the past week, with bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60%, while cancellations have surged by 250%.”
Promotional offers to both destinations have been quietly pulled.
Rohit Khattar, who runs a travel agency in Delhi, said demand has collapsed.
He explained: “Many young travellers may avoid it, fearing backlash on social media or social retribution.”
Mr Khatter added that his firm won’t risk investing in trips that might not take off.
In 2024, 330,100 Indians visited Turkey, up from 274,000 the previous year. Azerbaijan saw 244,000 Indian arrivals.
Despite the growth, Indian tourists accounted for less than 1% of Turkey’s total foreign visitors. In Azerbaijan, they made up nearly 9%.
Both destinations had grown popular for their affordability and short travel times, offering European-style experiences at lower costs.
Budget airlines added direct flights, boosting access.
Now, some social media users are recommending alternative countries such as Greece. But travel site Cleartrip said:
“As this is a developing situation, we haven’t seen significant highs or lows in demand for these alternate destinations.”
Meanwhile, several Indian universities, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Maulana Azad National Urdu University, have suspended academic ties with Turkish institutions.
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