In a show of solidarity with the Indian government and public sentiment following the Pahalgam terror attack, major Indian travel platforms including EaseMyTrip, Cox & Kings, ixigo, and Travomint have announced a complete suspension of all travel packages, flight bookings, and hotel reservations to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The move comes in response to pro-Pakistan statements issued by both Turkey and Azerbaijan following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, a military operation targeting terror launchpads across the Line of Control. The governments of both countries condemned the strikes, prompting widespread backlash across India’s travel industry.
“Enough is Enough! Blood and bookings won’t flow together,” said ixigo CEO Aloke Bajpai in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
“We are suspending all flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, China and Azerbaijan on ixigo. When it comes to Bharat, we don’t think twice. Jai Hind.”
According to B2B travel agents, interest in Turkey as a travel destination has plunged, with nearly 80% of bookings cancelled or postponed in recent weeks. Demand for Azerbaijan has also dropped sharply.
Other travel operators, including Cox & Kings and Travomint, followed suit, halting all package sales to Turkey and Azerbaijan in what is being seen as a symbolic economic boycott driven by patriotic sentiment and consumer pressure.
The backlash was sparked after Turkey warned that India’s actions could trigger an “all-out war” and aligned diplomatically with Pakistan. Azerbaijan echoed similar concerns. These statements were viewed as one-sided and insensitive, particularly in light of the Baisaran Valley attack, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists.
Although India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire late last week, the travel industry’s stance underscores broader public anger and a push for nationalistic corporate responsibility in times of conflict.
