India Terminates Turkish Ground Handling Firm Celebi's Operations at Major Airports
Overview of the Situation
On Thursday, India revoked the security clearance for the Turkish ground handling company, Çelebi Airport Services, leading to its removal from key airports. This decision affects operations at Delhi International Airport, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, and Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Reports suggest that similar actions may be taken at additional airports in the near future. Çelebi operates in India through its subsidiary, Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd. In response to the situation, the company has strongly denied rumors circulating on social media regarding its ownership and clarified that it has no ties to Sumeyye Erdogan, the daughter of the Turkish President.
Details of the Revocation
The Indian government announced the immediate revocation of the security clearance for Çelebi Airport Services, citing national security concerns. Officials emphasized that this decision was made to safeguard the country's interests. The order stated, "The security clearance for Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd., categorized as a Ground Handling Agency, was initially approved by the DG, BCAS. However, it has now been revoked in the interest of national security."
Reasons Behind the Decision
This action follows reports indicating that the Pakistani military utilized Turkish drones against India during recent conflicts. Additionally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has publicly supported Pakistan amid rising tensions with India. Notably, many of the drones employed by Pakistan are of Turkish manufacture.
Çelebi's Response
Çelebi Aviation India has categorically denied all misleading claims regarding its ownership and operations in India. The company stated, "We wish to clarify the facts regarding our ownership structure and our long-standing presence in India. Çelebi Aviation India is governed professionally and operates globally. Currently, international institutional investors from countries including Canada, the USA, the UK, Singapore, the UAE, and Western Europe hold a 65% majority stake in the company. Actera Partners II L.P., a fund registered in Jersey, owns 50% of Çelebi Havacilik Holding AS, while Alpha Airport Services BV, a Dutch entity, holds the remaining 15%."
Clarification on Ownership
The company has firmly rejected the false claims regarding Sumeyye Erdogan's involvement in its ownership. They stated, "To clarify, there is no individual named Sumeyye with any shareholding in the parent organization. The Turkish ownership is limited to members of the founding Celebioglu family, specifically Mr. Can Celebioglu and Ms. Canan Celebioglu, each holding 17.5%. The company was established in 1958 as Turkey's first private ground handling service, and both siblings have no political affiliations."
Impact on Airport Services
Airport authorities have assured that operations will not be disrupted, as they have already arranged for replacements to maintain seamless services. Official statements from Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports confirmed this, stating, "We will continue to provide uninterrupted service to all airlines through newly selected ground handling agencies. All existing employees of Celebi at CSMIA and SVPIA will be transferred to the new agencies under their current employment terms."
Çelebi's Operations in India
Çelebi began its operations in India through a joint venture at Mumbai International Airport. Over the past decade, it has expanded to nine airports across the country, including Delhi, Cochin, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad, and Chennai. Before the revocation of its security clearance, Çelebi managed 540,000 tons of cargo across 58,000 flights, providing services such as passenger handling, flight operations, load control, and ramp services to ensure efficient ground coordination. The company also supported general aviation, cargo, and mail handling, in addition to managing warehouse operations and boarding bridge services.